|
This costume belonged to a powerful shaman,
Semyon Mikhailovich Urkanov, who was believed to possess
the ability to influence the weather, the earth and
water, and to accompany souls of the dead to the
other world. The clothes symbolize a bird. The twisted
strands and the fringe along the lower part of the sleeve
represent bird feathers. The long band with appliqué
work of red and blue cloth is the "tail" of the bird; the
wings and claw of an owl are tied on the back. Tied to
the lower edge of the coat are twisted strands of
suede symbolizing a mythical shamanic snake--the creator
of the middle world (the earth). Some of the
twisted strands strung with pieces of squirrel fur are
wrapped with colored cloth or with white hair from the
beards of reindeer. Bells--one bell attached to each of
the sleeves--symbolize "voices" of shamanic spirits. On
the back of the costume, at the level of shoulder
blades, a bear figure and "reindeer antlers" made from
iron are attached. They symbolize helper spirits of the
shaman.
Evenk.
Suede, cloth, feathers and claw of bird, metal, hair from beards of reindeer, squirrel fur. Span of sleeves 155 cm, width of coat 50 cm, diameter 35 cm. Coll. No. 8762-19242.
|
|Index |