Marionette Head of an Antelope
Long established as fishermen, the Bozo were known to place animal heads on the prows of their canoes. The dynamic faceted face and backward curve of this antelope would have projected symbolic strength as a canoe moved through the water. The head might also have been manipulated during village performances by a handle inserted underneath.
Wood
30 1/2 x 8 3/8 x 10 1/8 in. (77.5 x 21.2 x 25.7 cm)
Gift of Katherine White and the Boeing Company
81.17.21
Provenance: Acquired by Katherine White (1929-1980), Seattle, Washington, 1961 (location unknown); bequeathed to Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington, 1981