A FINE NUXALK FRONTLET

細節

A FINE NUXALK FRONTLET
Of oval form with back hollowed out, carved in high relief with a central bird head with protruding open beak, almond shaped eyes with circular pupils and arched brows, surmounted by a small figure of a seated thunderbird with wings stretching out and attached with cotton twine to the forehead, a pair of articulated bird's claws resembling human hands protruding from below, details painted in green, red and black with abalone shell inlays around the frame and in the eyes
9¾in. (24.7cm.) high

來源

Sotheby's, New York, April 27 and 28, 1984, lot 63

拍品專文

Label on back reads as follows:
"sun & eagle, eagle on top, hideous bird with two feet, clam shell decorations, worn in centre of forehead - 1890"

Concerning the function of this frontlet, Brown (1996) writes that it was used by the Sisaok society of the Nuxalk in the peace dance. It "is performed in conjunction with the display of ancestor spirits from the inherited traditions of the families. The newly initiated peace dancer would be coaxed and eased into running from the house in search of their spirit power, and return in the portrayal of one of the ancestral spirits that are part of the family's tradition. Sisaok regalia is created to be of heirloom quality, representing the spirits from whom the ceremonial names of the family are derived, to be passed down from one generation to the next."