• Foto Number: INW-055

An old chiefs hat, woven of fine spruce roots and decorated at the top with an ermine skin (about 1850). Each of the cylindrical rings is said to symbolize a potlatch hosted by the wearer of the hat, although the generally held theory that such rings are "potlatch rings" is controversial. The painted design could represent an eagle or the wealth-bringing sea monster Gonakadet. (61 cm, ASM)
ASM = Alaska State Museum, Juneau

• Keywords:
  North America USA Alaska Juneau Tlingit INW Hat Alaska State Museum - Juneau