Sea Bear Crest hat (Tsa.an Xuu.ujee Dajangee)
ca. 1870
Indigenous People of Haida Gwaii built their villages of sturdy cedar longhouses at strategic sites facing the sea. Oral histories tell of origins from the primordial waters surrounding their islands. Part bear and part whale, this creature—strengthened by its connection to both land and sea—appears to be surfacing from the water, dorsal fin slicing the waves. Atop a steep continental shelf that results in a constant upwelling of waters, the Haida Gwaii islands are home to many unique underwater species—the subjects of orally conveyed legends, songs, and masks.
Red cedar and paint
10 1/2 x 15 3/4 in. (26.67 x 40cm)
Gift of John H. Hauberg
83.228
Provenance: Mark Tobey, until 1957; John H. Hauberg, Seattle, Washington, 1957-1983; Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington