AC.11207

The Kwakwaka'wakw are indigenous peoples that traditionally inhabited the coastal areas in northeastern Vancouver and mainland British Columbia. This headdress was most likely used in traditional ceremonies or weddings. The Kwakwaka'wakw hold a ceremony called a “potlatch” in which the stories and the culture of their peoples are celebrated and wooden gifts bearing the house symbols are distributed. Kwakwaka'wakw art can be defined by deep cuts in the wood and “punning” in which figures or symbols fill visual voids in an object. The carved bird on the headdress depicts Thunderbird. Thunderbird is believed to be an Ancestral Sky Being from the Namgis clan of Kwakwaka'wakw that causes lightning when its feathers are ruffled and lightning flashes when its eyes blink. It was also believed to be an all-natural force and only chiefs and individuals of high power were allowed to use it in their crest. The two faces on the front and back of the band depict Siskiyutl, a powerful double-headed serpent that guards the house of the sky people. It symbolizes duality and contradiction and is also seen as a spirit helper who is called upon by warriors for power and invulnerability. Warriors would often wear headbands and belts depicting, meaning this headdress most likely belonged to a warrior. The headdress was made by William Seaweed in approximately 1890-1910.

        This headdress appears to consist of several carved wooden pieces that have been attached together using twine, string, and ferrous nails. The headdress comprises a thin wooden headband with a carved wooden bird on top. The headband appears to consist of 6 separately carved wooden pieces that have been tied together with string and shaped into a circular band.  The carved wooden bird has been stabilized onto the headband of the object using a wooden platform held together with twine. The bird has been screwed into this platform with a single thin ferrous rod that also appears to be supporting the bird in its upright position. This thin rod has been secured onto the platform with a string that has been wrapped around the wooden board numerous times. The bird appears to be made from 5 separately carved pieces of wood that have been either tied together with string or nailed together with ferrous nails. The bird has a curved beak and is perched on the platform in a sitting position. There are also two thin curved copper horns that have been nailed to the top of the bird’s head. The bird’s surface has been intricately detailed and painted with yellow, green, black, red, and orange paint. The entire surface has been covered with yellow, green, black, red, and orange paint and designs of what appear to be numerous faces. The very front and back of the band show the frontal view of Siskiyutl’s face with horns bearing its teeth while the back’s two side pieces of the band show the side profile of Siskiyutl’s serpents also bearing their teeth and tongue. There is also a fabric cloth secured on the inside of the headband with string, most likely added for the user’s comfort. The entire wooden headdress has been coated with a clear finish. Two plaited pieces of string are attached and hanging from either side of the headdress, perhaps used to secure the object onto the user’s head.

        This object shows obvious signs of use and wear. The paint throughout the headdress (most on the bird) shows signs of wearing away and the bird’s copper horns are also tarnished from corrosion. A small crack is also visible in the bottom of the bird’s proper left horn. The bird’s proper right wing also appears to be loose and slightly shaky. The cloth secured on the inside of the headband is heavily discolored on the front’s bottom, where the user’s forehead perspiration would have been prominent. Some of the string that secures and holds most of the piece together seems to be very thin and susceptible to breaking apart. The wooden platform that holds the bird upright onto the headband also seems to be slightly discolored from age and chipped from use. A couple holes that have been bored into the wood to tie the string and secure the platform show radial cracking as well. A layer of dust has settled onto the surface, especially in the area where the bird’s tail is. Since the headband has only been secured together with string, it is extremely fragile and must be handled with caution. A catalog number has been written directly in black ink on the wooden platform’s right underside. The name “John Scow” has also been directly written in black ink on the inside front of the headband and another indiscernible lettering on the cloth. The object is 19cm in diameter, 31cm in length, and 18cm in height.