Spear-Holder (Atlatle)
date: label: Accession Date
content: 1876
label: Collection Date
content: 1875
name: label: Collector
content: James G. Swan
label: Donor Name
content: James G. Swan
notes: label: Notes
content: FROM CARD: "ILLUS. IN USNM AR 1888; PL. 27, FIG. 127A,B; P. 286. 4/18/67:LOANED TO VANCOUVER ART GALL. 12/13/67:RETURNED BY VANCOUVER. LOAN: CROSSROADS SEP 22 1988. ILLUS.: CROSSROADS OF CONTINENTS CATALOGUE; FIG.388, P.282. LOAN RETURNED: JAN 21 1993." Crossroads of Continents catalogue identifies: Spear Thrower, Tlingit. "The very few Tlingit spear throwers, or throwing boards, that survive are all carved with figures that resemble those on shaman's rattles and amulets. Although completely functional, they are poorly shaped for efficient use ... compared to Pacific Eskimo throwing boards .... It is possible that they were all shamans' instruments, weapons to be used in war with the spirits. Whichever is the case, they are often beautifully carved. A long-beaked, crested bird (a kingfisher or meganser) bites an asymmetrically rendered sea creature on the shaft of this board. The legs, hands, and face of a man, with closed eyes, emerge from recesses in the grip. Although collected in the late 19th century, its early style, heavy wear and patination indicate a much earlier origin."
label: Notes
content: Florence Sheakley, elder, made the following comments during the Tlingit Recovering Voices Community Research Visit, March 13-March 24, 2017. The design on this object is a Spirit Face.
label: Record Last Modified
content: 23 Aug 2021
label: Specimen Count
content: 1
place: label: Place
content: Baranof Island / Sitka, Alexander Archipelago, Alaska, United States, North America
topic: label: Topic
content: Ethnology
culture: label: Culture
content: Tlingit
setName: label: See more items in
content: Anthropology
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
identifier: label: Accession Number
content: 004730
label: USNM Number
content: E20771-0
objectType: label: Object Type
content: Atlatl