The Mystery of the Sea

Ceremonial frontlet or headdress entitled "Mystery of the Sea." The carved wood may represent a grizzly bear embracing an owl (LS). The carved design is of a large animal with arms and legs surrounding a smaller animal face which appears to have a short beak. The larger animal has arms and legs carved in high relief, then painted red and inlaid with abalone shell. The larger animal's face is painted red, teal, and black with abalone shell inlay for the eyes and teeth. The smaller animal is painted teal and black with shell inlay for the eyes. The perimeter of the wood is painted green and red, felt strips are attached to the edges. Flanking the carving, an ermine pelt is attached on either side and oriented with its head pointing downward. The top of the headdress is lined with sea lion whiskers. Below the whiskers, a frame of either wood or baleen is used to attach orange and black flicker feathers over a lining of old newspaper. Below the feathers on the back of the headdress, a long train of five tiers of white ermine pelts is attached to an animal hide backing. The carving is set over a hide cap covered with iridescent, mallard duck feathers. Hide straps are attached to the bottom of the hide cap to affix the headdress to the wearer's head.