Canadian Indigenous Art Potlatch Hat Handcrafted Northwest BC Canada Chief Gift

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Canadian Indigenous Art Potlatch Hat Handcrafted Northwest BC Canada Chief Gift:
$1380.16

Hand Woven & Painted Potlatch Hat

Northwest Coast Indigenous Ceremony, Canada

Gorgeous craftsmanship on this hand woven, hand painted Canadian Indigenous piece

Gift given to special guests by Chief at Potlatch Ceremony.

"The potlatch celebrated a change of rank or status with dancing, feasting, and gifts. Like many other societies, those of the Northwest Coast associated prestige with wealth, and the potlatcher gained prestige according to the liberality of his giving." Indigenous Culinary Arts - RRC Library

Hat From Chief Frank Baker's Potlatch - Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada

Matching hat was found online, sold at an sale in 2011. So, that suggests that this hat was made 13 years or more ago.

Natural coloured woven hat

Hand painted symbols in black and red, painted in a circle around the brim. "The significance of the circle is evident for Aboriginal people in many ways. The circle is a sacred symbol of the interdependence of all forms of life; the circle is a key symbol in Native spirituality, family structure, gatherings of people, meetings, songs and dances." Pewewardy, 1995

Very good condition - some areas of paint are thinner - unclear as to if this is how it was originally painted, or if it's slight signs of wear. There are no signs of repainting. (See photos for more detail).

Approximate measurements:

Width of entire brim: 19.5"

Crown: 6.5" tall (interior) × 5.3" in diameter (top of hat)

Hat is 9.5" tall at front and 7.5" tall at back

• all photos taken in natural light with no editing to colour.