Tuxw'id Female Warrior Spirit Puppet

Regular price $6,825.00 CAD

This Tuxw'id Puppet by Calvin Hunt is hand-carved in red cedar and painted in black, red, and green acrylic with horsehair, cedar bark twine, and red cotton added to the figure. The puppet dimensions are approximately 59" (150cm) tall including the hair, 25" (63.5cm) wide including the cedar, and about 11¾" (30cm) in depth.

This price does not include shipping. Please contact us concerning packaging and shipping costs.

In Kwakwaka’wakw winter potlatches there is a deep tradition of elaborate ritual performances that amplify cultural teachings through the dramatization of the supernatural. Traveling the world, making war, Winalagalis comes from the North to winter with the Kwakwaka’wakw as the patron spirit of winter dance season known as the T'seka or Red Cedar Bark Ceremonials. This sacred season is guided by dancing societies and is characterized in part by the elaborate staging of dramatic tricks that make the presence of the supernatural spirits visible and credible.

Dances and songs associated with Winalagalis include the display of dLuguwe' or supernatural treasures—figures and puppets such as this Tuxw'id, a female warrior spirit by Calvin Hunt. This puppet would rise from behind a dance screen and appear to come to life.

During potlatch ceremonials inside the big house, Tuxw'id puppets, some with articulated appendages, appear in powerful dramatic illusions to suggest that spirits are present. Spirits appear to fly through the air on invisible cords, or emerge from beneath the earthen dance floor by hidden control strings, or miraculously materialize from within the central fire. These displays are all part of family privileges in drama and dancing.

As Calvin Hunt explains, “There are so many variations of different spirits portrayed in Tuxw'id. There are power boards that represent ghosts that come up into the house, there are supernatural birds and other creatures. Supernatural events take place. In one version a woman gives birth to a frog.

“My wife, Marie Hunt, had a Tuxw'id that she passed on to our granddaughter, Scarlet, at our potlatch in October 2019. It is a supernatural canoe that could fly across the sky into the heavens. My daughter, Ali Hunt, has one that was passed from my mother to her. Her Tuxw'id are power boards which represent ghosts of different creatures in our supernatural realm.” —Carol Sheehan—

 

Unless otherwise indicated above, the price for this item includes shipping to Canada and the continental USA. Please email us at info@spiritsofthewestcoast.com for a quote to have the item shipped outside continental North America.

Shipping Information

We ship internationally!

Free shipping on most items within Canada and the U.S.

The Shipping times mentioned below are estimates for orders that we have in our inventory and are not guaranteed . Shipping to the USA or other international locations may be delayed due to national customs organizations. These delays are not included in the shipping estimates mentioned and are out of our control.

If you have a specific shipping / delivery deadline, please call or email us, to make sure we have the item that you would like to order in stock.

Custom orders or orders for items that we don’t have in our inventory, or don’t have the exact size in stock, will take longer. It usually takes 2 – 4 weeks depending on the individual item and artist, to have individual items carved. Custom orders may take somewhat longer.

International Shipping - items may be subject to customs processing depending on the item's declared value.

Sellers set the item's declared value and must comply with customs declaration laws.

As the buyer, you should be aware of possible:

- delays from customs inspection.

- import duties and taxes which buyers must pay.

- brokerage fees payable at the point of delivery.

Your country's customs office can offer more details.

Regular Shipping:

We usually use Canada Post services without tracking information for our regular shipping option. The delivery standards for surface/air shipping are usually 2 - 9 business days (Canada), 5 - 12 business days (USA), 6 - 35 business days (Europe) and 6-35 business days to the other continents. If your shipping address is remote, delivery times may increase. These delivery standards are estimates and are not guaranteed.

Canada Post International Parcel Surface or Priority Worldwide Express Shipments:

If you would like to find a faster priority / express shipping service, than the ones mentioned in the shopping cart, or if shipping times are less important than the cost, please contact us for a custom shipping quote. Delivery dates mentioned below are approximations that do not include delays due to International Customs or unforeseen circumstances. The delivery standards for Priority™ Worldwide( Usually through FedEx ) are usually 2-3 business days (USA), 3-5 business days (Europe) and 4-6 business days to the other continents. The delivery standards for International Parcel Surface can be up to 7 weeks. If your shipping address is remote, delivery times may increase. These delivery standards are estimates and are not guaranteed.

Canada Post shipping services with tracking numbers can be tracked at the following website: http://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/track/personal/findByTrackNumber?execution=e1s1