Headdress

Headdress or frontlet in the form of what is likely a bear (Milburn, The Politics of Possession... p. 296). Wood is carved with the image of an animal whose limbs and face are in high relief. The body, lips, and nostrils are painted red. The eyebrows, fingers, and toes are painted black, and green paint is used for the face and surrounding wood. Abalone shell inlay is used for the eyes, incisors, and for nine squares around the perimeter of the wood. Red felt is attached to the edges of the carving and an ermine pelt is attached on either side, oriented vertically. The top of the headdress is lined with sea lion whiskers and orange and black flicker feathers, as well as gray feathers in between. Below the whiskers and feathers is a section of white and gray, down feathers. Below the down feathers, the back of the headdress is wrapped horizontally with multiple ermine pelts. Finally, a long train of three tiers of white ermine pelts is attached to a hide backing. Hide straps are attached beneath the wood carving to affix the headdress to the wearer's head.