Images(2)

Dance Regalia

Datec. 1898

Mediumcedar bark, wood, vegetable fibre, metal, mammal skin

DimensionsOther: 44.2 × 3.5 × 59 cm (17 3/8 × 1 3/8 × 23 1/4 in.)

ClassificationsCeremonial Objects

Terms

Paper Field ReferencesCMH VII-B-114

Object numberHRC 00114

Descriptionfigures, consisting of carved and painted wooden tail and three fins representing a killer whale, used as dance properties. tail is carved from a single piece of light brown coloured wood and flares gradually from upper end which is semi-elliptical in cross section. upper surface of tail is convex with a ridge along centre. symmetrical flukes are formed by semi-circular piece with pointed extension cut out of centre of lower edge of tail. crack (14.5cm long) runs through centre of one fluke and two metal nails are nailed close to outer edge of ffluke 0.5cm and 4cm from lower edge respectively, upper surface of tail is painted dark brown while lower concave surfacce is unpainted. a roughly rectangular piece of skin is nailed to lower surface of upper end of tail with ten round headed metal nails, and extends slightly over upper end of tail. fine curved line incised across lower surface off tail beneath piece of skin. skin is perforated with twelve holes around outer edges. dorsal fin is carved from a single piece of light brown coloured wood. fin is an elongated ellipse in cross section which tapers and flattens towards rounded tip of fin. circular perforation (4.3cm in diameter) cut through centre of fin 31.8cm from tip and is also at centre of diagonal band (5.5cm wide), stained with yellowish white residue. rest of both surfaces of fin painted dark brown with wide end left unpainted. a concave u shaped notch is carved close to each side in wide end of fin and a hole is drilled through fin above each notch with several pieces of twine, made from strands of vegetable fibre (perhaps fireweed or milkweed) wrapped around cedar bark fibres, threaded and reeved through holes. a metel nail is nailed through fin above one nottch and tip of nail extends into notch. the number "3038" is marked in red ink on one surface near wide end. dorsal fin carved and painted in same manner as other. perforation at centre of fin is 4.4cm in diameter and 31.2cm from tip of fin. (this fin does not havve a collector's number marked on it or nail above notch). band of yellowish white residue is approx. 5.2cm wide. this dorsal fin carved and painted as same manner as other 2 with "3038" marked in red ink on one surfacce and a metal nail is nailed through reverse surface near centrre of wide end with tip of nail extending beyond end. band of yellowish white residue is approximately 4.9cm wide. perforation at centre is 4.4cm wide and 31.8cm from tip of fin.

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