War Club
Arts of the Americas
MEDIUM
Stone, wood, abalone shell, hair, paint, resin
DATES
mid–19th century
DIMENSIONS
20 x 11 x 4 1/2 in. (50.8 x 27.9 x 11.4 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
05.588.7289
CREDIT LINE
Museum Expedition 1905, Museum Collection Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Referred to as a war club, the head is a large elongated rectangular stone that is inserted into a carved wooden handle. The handle has three faces, one on the top and the second and third on either side of the ax head. These faces have three rows of hair in small "ponytails" protruding from the ridge above the eyebrows. One of the hair "ponytails" has been cut off, leaving a stump of frayed hair sticking up on the proper left top side of the face. The underside of the handle has a carved seal and midway along the handle is a filled break. The club is painted black with white and red accents. There are inlayed areas of abalone shell around the base of the handle, the sides of the head, and in the eyes and teeth of the faces. The only missing shell inlay is from the base of the handle. The overall condition of the piece is fair and stable. According to Robin K. Wright, Burke Museum, 4/16/03, the face looks more Bella Bella (Heiltsuk).
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Heiltsuk (Bella Bella). War Club, mid–19th century. Stone, wood, abalone shell, hair, paint, resin, 20 x 11 x 4 1/2 in. (50.8 x 27.9 x 11.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1905, Museum Collection Fund, 05.588.7289. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 05.588.7289_front_SL1.jpg)
IMAGE
front, 05.588.7289_front_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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