Hinkeet'sam—Wolf or Serpent
ca. 1930
The headdress form is called hinkeet’sam, meaning “for around the head” because it is worn on top of the head and not over the face as a mask would be. Headdresses are made in pairs, sometimes with one worn by a woman and the other worn by a man. Both naturalistic and abstract elements may appear simultaneously, suggesting the ever-present unity of the natural and supernatural worlds.
Red cedar, red cedar bark, and paint
27 1/2 x 9 3/4 in. (69.9 x 24.8 cm)
Gift of John H. Hauberg
91.1.26
Provenance: Micheal R. Johnson, Seattle, Washington, until 1971; John H. Hauberg, Seattle, Washington, 1971-1991; Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington
Photo: Paul Macapia
