Frontlets
To Filter Products:
-
Ancestor Frontlet
Lyle Wilson
CA$5,800.00Yew Wood, 22 Abalone shell inlays, Acrylic paint
Stone Base4.75 x 4 x 2.75″ (frontlet only)
6.75 x 4 x 2.75″ (including base)NUGWA (I/me) have always admired the older GEE-GEE-WA (frontlet) because they were usually simple, yet very strongly conceived and well-carved.
The GEE-GEE-WA is an important and highly prized ceremonial item — it’s attached to a head-piece that allows it to be seen on the forehead and has valuable additions that surround it: GILL-UM (ermine pelt), JUH-JES-PEE-CA (flicker) JILL-JILLCH (feather), and GLEE-CHAN (sea lion) whiskers.
The GEE-GEE-WA was used in a dance where the dancer shook his head at certain times during the dance; loosely contained within the ring of whiskers was the WACH-A-LA (down feather). The dancer’s head-shaking allowed the WACH-A-LA to float out into the air — this dance was often used to open a potlatch and by greeting guests in this manner, the hosting clan was signaling their peaceful intentions.
Often this dance is referred to as either a “HEY-MAS (chief) dance” or the “Peace Dance”.
So the carving portrays — appropriately — an stylized ancestor from the olden days.
Lyle Wilson 2024
-
Heymas (Chief) Frontlet
Lyle Wilson
CA$9,100.00Yew Wood, 22 Abalone shell inlays, Acrylic paint
5 x 3.5 x 2.25″ (frontlet only)
8.25 x 3.5 x 2.75″ (including stand)NUGWA (I/me) have always admired the GEE-GEE-WA (frontlet) because they were usually strongly conceived, well-carved and usually featured a clan crest; or characters relating to clan history.
The GEE-GEE-WA is an important and highly prized ceremonial item — it’s attached to a head-piece that allows it to be seen on the forehead and has valuable additions that surround it: GILL-UM (ermine pelt), JUH-JES-PEE-CA (flicker) JILL-JILLCH (feather), and GLEE-CHAN (sea lion) whiskers.
The GEE-GEE-WA was used in a dance where the dancer shook his head at certain times during the dance; loosely contained within the ring of whiskers was the WACH-A-LA (down feather). The dancer’s head-shaking allowed the WACH-A-LA to float out into the air — this dance was often used to open a potlatch and by greeting guests in this manner, the hosting clan was signaling their peaceful intentions.
Often this dance is referred to as either a “HEY-MAS (chief) dance” or the “Peace Dance”.
After NUGWA (I/me) carved the older style “ANCESTOR” GEE-GEE-WA, NUGWA decided to carve a GLUMC (yew wood) version in a more modern style; featuring a HEY-MAS wearing his woven DIN-YAS (red cedar) headband with GIZUA (sun) GEE-GEE-WA attached.
Lyle Wilson 2024