Frontlet

About this object

Narrative

Said to have been collected by Donald MacKay while he was the Indian Commissioner for BC, 1937-1948.

Physical description

Vertically rectangular wood piece. Eagle bird design carved in the centre. Eagle has a wide, red face that is outlined by dark blue with circular abalone shell inlaid eyes surrounded by a tapering red oval surrounded by a white ovoid outlined by dark blue. Downward curved, white beak is has a lower red lip with six oblong abalone shell inlaid teeth. The red body has a vertical row of four vertically, rectangular abalone shell inlaid pieces. The outward pointing, white claws have four downward pointing, red digits. The red side wings have downward pointing, dark blue outlined, white triangular feathers. The trapezoid-shaped tail is white. Six horizontal rows of upward pointing, dark blue outlined, white triangular shapes are at either side. The background is red. Rectangular abalone shell inlaid pieces are around the border with six at either side and seven along the top. The outer edges are white with a narrow vertical wood strip painted white attached at either side by leather skin.