Baranof Island / Sitka, Alexander Archipelago, Alaska, United States, North America
Accession Date:
1870
Collection Date:
1867 to 1869
Notes:
FROM CARD: "MADE OF THIRTY-TWO SLATS OF CEDAR AND OTHER WOOD WOVEN TOGETHER BY FINE WEAVING OF FINE SINEW AND OTHER CORD. A BAND OF WEAVING OF THREE INCHES WIDTH IS CARRIED ALONG THE FRONT AT THE TOP AND THE WEAVING IS CONTINUED DOWNWARDS IN TWO PLACES, MEETING A BAND CROSSING THE BOTTOM, AND FORMING A GEOMETRICAL FIGURE. THE MIDDLE SERIES OF SLATS, EIGHT IN NUMBER, EXTENDS BELOW THE OTHER FOUR INCHES, THREE OF WHICH ARE INTACT, WHILE TWO ON EACH SIDE ARE UNITED, FORMING A SWALLOW-TAIL AND ALLOWING THE FREE BENDING OF THE THIGHS. THE FRONT AND BACK ARE DISTINCT; JOINED BY ELK SKIN CORDS AT THE SIDES. A SECTION OF SHORT SLATS, EIGHT IN NUMBER, IS PLACED IN FRONT OF THE THROAT, AND A SIMILAR ROW, SEVEN IN NUMBER, PROTECTS THE BACK OF THE NECK. THE ARMOR IS HELD IN PLACE BY A BROAD BAND OF ELK SKIN OVER THE RIGHT SHOULDER, AND FASTENED ON THE LEFT SIDE BY A LOOP AND THONG. A TOGGLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE COLLAR IN FRONT WAS PROBABLY FOR SUSPENSION OF THE QUIVER. HEIGHT 21 1/2", WIDTH 20 INCHES. ILLUS. IN USNM AR, 1893; PL. 6, FIG. 1 & 2; P. 636. ILLUS.: HNDBK. N. AMER. IND., VOL. 7, NORTHWEST COAST, FIG. 13 CENTER RIGHT, PG. 218."
