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1985.49.225

Amulet of elk hoof incised with crest design. [MJD 5/5/2009]

1985.49.225

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Collection type
Object
Description
Amulet of elk hoof incised with crest design. [MJD 5/5/2009]
Long description
Amulet of elk hoof incised with crest design. The overall shape is conical, with the top perforated. The bottom half of the ornament has been incised with large eye designs in the middle and more abstract designs along the bottom. This likely would have been attached to an apron to jingle or rattle when dancing. [CAK 21/05/2010]
Geographical reference
Canada
Northern America > North America > Canada
British Columbia Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) NW Coast
Cultural groups
Haida
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1935
Date collected
By 1935
Acquisition information
Transferred: 1985
Materials and processes
Material Elk Hoof Animal, Process Carved, Process Perforated, Process Incised
Dimensions
Width: max 51 mm, Length: max 64 mm, Depth: max 28 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1985.49.225 Other numbers: 1620/ 1937
Research and responses

The following information comes from Haida delegates who worked with the museum’s collection in September 2009 as part of the project “Haida Material Culture in British Museums: Generating New Forms of Knowledge” :

This object was viewed alongside other items of personal adornment on Friday Sept 11, 2009. Delegates explained that hooves are associated with shamans. They also wondered if the material was elk or caribou hoof instead. Christian White commented that he could imagine this object being part of a necklace or hanging on an apron. Ruth Gladstone Davies explained that mountain goat horn was hung on aprons to make a noise when dancing. Christian White thought the design was a Northwest Coast design. A discussion of the sound this object would make can be viewed on Tape 6, time 8:50, which can be found in the Haida Project Related Documents File. [CAK 21/05/2010]

Animal horn amulet, in the form of a neck ornament. [CW 11 6 98]

Search terms: Ornament, Dance, Medicine, Amulet, Dance Accessory, Medical Accessory

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