Potlatch Figure

Artist:Gwa'sala Kwakwaka'wakw

Medium: Wood, beads, pigment

Geograhical Locations:

• Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Dates:19th century

Dimensions: 43 x 14 3/8 x 8 in. (109.2 x 36.5 x 20.3 cm)

Collections:

• Arts of the Americas

Museum Location: American Art Galleries, 5th Floor, Witness

Exhibitions:

• American Identities: A New Look
• Toward Joy: New Frameworks for American Art

Accession Number: X1118.3

Catalogue Description:
Male potlatch figure with head turned in profile. Facial features and ears are clearly delineated; pupils of eyes are indicated by black beads, and there is a hole in the center of each bead. The mouth is partially open. Traces of red and black paint remain on the face, and on headband on upperpart of forehead. The top of the head is flat. The torso lacks arms and lower part of legs. Adze-like marks appear on torso, neck and back of head. These figures were generally used during potlatches and early photographs record that they were sometimes dressed with robes or blankets perhaps signifying status or wealth of the person holding the potlatch.

Brooklyn Museum