Carved and painted cedar potlatch hat or Clan Crest Hat of flying eagle. Main body and wing outlined in black; face, tail and wing bars - blue; mouth-red, tail & wings - show red feather patterns. Wings, tail feathers and eyes are inset with abalone. Four wood potlatch rings - alternating red and black. Top ring is adorned with human hair (long wavy); rings are bound with heavy, cotton string. Hat Field color is natural wood. Black ring around rim. Underneath side of hat is natural wood. Clan crest hats were valuable possessions of a clan and always included images of important spirit animals or other supernatural beings — in this case the eagle — associated with the clan. Owned by the clan, such hats traditionally were cared for and worn by the hereditary chiefs only on important occasions, such as at potlatches. They are sometimes called potlatch hats because chiefs often commemorated each potlatch they had hosted by putting a basketry ring on the hat. In this example, the rings are carved of wood.