Collection:
Juneau—Douglas City Museum
Object ID:
89.34.001 A—I
Accession#:
89.34
Credit Line:
Discovered in Collections.
Object Name:
Screen, House
Title:
House Screen Representing "Gunakadet"
Description:
Nine pieces of rough sawn painted boards, possibly cedar. When assembled, screen has Native design painted in red, black, and aqua. Design represents "Gunakadet" (sea monster) of Northwest Coast (Haida) legend. Design represents fish's body with bear claws.
A — 146 inches by .625 inch by 9.5 inches
B — 149.5 inches by 1 inch by 11.875 inches
C — 145.5 inches by 1 inch by 9.75 inches
D — 147 inches by 1 inch by 7.5 inches
E — 147 inches by 1.125 inches by 7.75 inches
F — 63.5 inches by 1 inch by 5.5 inches
G — 86.75 inches by .5 inch by 5.75 inches
H — 121 inches by .75 inch by 5.375 inches
I — 110 inches by .875 inch by 5.75 inches
When assembled, approximately 12 inches by 5 inches by 6 inches.
Notes:
Bruce Kato (Alaska State Museum), Amos Wallace & Horace Marks, identified it as "Gunakadet". Wallace & Marks identified it as Haida design & probably painted by a native. (See documentation file) Found in collections — Last Chance Basin.
(Note: Gundakadet, name given to pocket park in Juneau at Front & Franklin. Sea Monster reported to bring good luck & comes out of sea after disasters. Sealaska Heritage Foundation info).

Sketch of assembly in the document file.
Search Terms:
Native
Tlingit
Haida
Mythology
Fine Arts
Painting
Unattributed NWC
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Painted ScreenPainted Screen