Property of A SOUTHWEST COLLECTOR
A FINE NUXALK POLYCHROME FRONTLET

Details
A FINE NUXALK POLYCHROME FRONTLET
Of rectangular form, carved in high relief with a central bird head and two smaller human heads at top and bottom, round eyes, open mouths, downward curved beaks, and arched brows, the central bird with large hooked beak projecting outwards and mirror inlay eyes, the smaller top face also with abalone inlay eyes and raised projection atop head, the bottom face with black pigmented eyes, all three faces on frontlet with eight abalone inlays, blue, red and black pigment, six pierced holes on periphery for suspension
11in. (28cm.) high
Provenance
Acquired by Malin from Charley Wilson at Fort Rupert in 1948.

Lot Essay

Although the Nuxalk employed many recognizable animal forms in their crest art, their distinctive bird form headdress frontlets represent supernatural creatures that do not have counterparts in the natural world (see Stott, 1995, p. 66).