Headdress Item Number: A7858 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Painted owl headdress with a protruding beak. The mask is natural wood with features and designs painted on. The beak, forehead and area surrounding the eyes is green. The eyebrows are black. The cheeks, eyelids and mouth are orange. Silver is used to detail the eyes, nostrils, checks and forehead. Red designs including half circles are on either side of the headdress. Above the owl's face is a carved headdress featuring orange and green triangles and silver circles. Baleen is attached to the back of the mask and is visible above the headdress. A brown textile, red and printed strands are also attached to the back of the headdress creating a hat-like structure. (Similar to A7859).

Cultural Context

"mask of a giver at potlatch - giving of a lot of money by chief (owl form)".