Mask Item Number: 25.0/310 from the The Burke: University of Washington
Exhibit Label
The identification of this mask is uncertain, but the long fringe of red-dyed shredded cedar bark decorating it leads to the conclusion that it belongs to the Winter Ceremonial. It is very likely one of the many beings represented by masked dancers in the atlakim. Interestingly, there is a tradition of destroying certain kinds of masks after using them a limited number of times, and the atlakim is one of the performances of which this was said to have been typical. The modelling of the features, with sharp definition of the eyesocket and deeply grooved cheek line, together with the white painted background and green eyesockets, clearly proclaim Kwakwaka'wakw origin. (Holm, Crooked Beak of Heaven, 1972)
Automatically Generated From Material
The paint is red, black, green, and white.
Item History
- Received from Mrs. Anne Gerber
What
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Received from
- Mrs. Anne Gerber
Where
- Holding Institution
- The Burke: University of Washington
Other
- Credit
- Sidney Gerber Collection, Gift of Anne Gerber
- Motif
- Human Face
- Collection
- Burke Museum Ethnology Collection