The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of December 19, 2025
Dagger (Gwálaa)
late 1800s–early 1900s
Overall: 2.5 x 6 cm (1 x 2 3/8 in.); Blade: 21 cm (8 1/4 in.)
Gift of J. H. Wade 1916.719
Location: 231 Native North American
Description
After Europeans introduced firearms, the Indigenous Northwest Coast dagger transformed from a weapon into a status symbol worn in a sheath that hung from the neck. That may be the case with this example, which depicts a head surmounted by a fish, perhaps a salmon.- {{cite web|title=Dagger (Gwálaa)|url=false|author=|year=late 1800s–early 1900s|access-date=19 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1916.719