amulet(?)
- Museum number
- Am1949,22.42
- Description
-
Thin curved artefact, of round cross section, made of a length of bone or antler, with a point at one end and, at the other, a rudimentary carved head, with two neck rings, the mechanical metal drilled holed for suspension also being the eyes of the animal. A third of the way down, facing inwards, is a simple carved face, with toothed hair, open mouth and dot eyes, with three incised rings above the head and four below. Three labels are attached: '806' from the Oldman probate list; a 19th century paper label with in ink: 'Bow used for turning a drill. From [the] Queen Charlotte's Island. ...' The use of the apostrophe suggests an early 19th century date for the label, the suggestion that this is a drill bow is incorrect but implies that the label writer was familiar with Arctic drill bows. A 20th century ink label on postage stamp guttering reads: 'Kun-si-kah. Haida'. Most probable use is an element of an amulet necklace for a shaman. The carving style could be Northwest Coast, but there is nothing very diagnostic about any of the features.
- Production date
- 1780-1860
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 1 centimetres (max)
-
Height: 5 centimetres
-
Length: 25 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- From acquisition "Haida" - a possible but unlikely origin. New description by JCK 5/7/96.
Register 1949:
"kun si kah, Haida", North West Coast.
Oldman No. 806.
See ETH DOC 1307.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Good.
- Acquisition date
- 1949
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Am1949,22.42
