Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number CAS 1986-0004-0020   CAS 1986-0004-0020; Staff
Category Carvings
Object Name Staff
Culture Tlingit (?)
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. Alaska
County
Other Geographic Data Area near Klukwan and Haines, Alaska
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture early 1900s
Collection Name N/A
Materials Wood; Pigments; Grass fiber; Nails
Description Cylindrical staff carved in 2 pieces joined together at oblique angle; Upper section shows a human-like figure with grass fiber wrapped around head and standing atop raven -like bird, which in turn appears to be holding a short-legged quadruped with its legs spread out in front and behind it; Distal end of the lower portion of the staff is carved with the image of an elongated quadruped with long ears and a large tail, which is carved on the back of the staff, whereas the other figures are all carved on the front; All figures are painted in black and red; Portion of staff below the carvings is unpainted except for a narrow black band at the very end; The two sections of the staff are slightly overlapped and nailed together.
Dimensions (cm) Max Diam = 2.0, Length = 61.0