Bird Mask Item Number: A6334 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Wooden, carved, supernatural bird mask with a long beak and circular cutout nostrils. The beak is hinged with fibre twine on either side; the beak is now fixed shut. The beak and nostrils are painted black with red edging. There are two red split U forms and one orange U-form carved at the back of the beak running towards the nostril. The eyes are white, outlined in black on a white, ovoid shaped background; brow is black. Attached to the top of the head is a fringe of cedar bark; pieces of braided cedar line the bottom rim. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of an attached twine cord that assistants the beak in opening and shutting. The mask is painted black, red, white and orange with Northwest Coast stylized designs.

History Of Use

Raven mask; part of the atłaamł dance series. Worn by female attendant, hiligaxslhe', in taming the Hamats!a dancer.

Iconographic Meaning

Represents Raven at the North End of the World, Gwaxgwaxwalanuxsiwe', one of the servants of Baxbakwalnuxsiwe': cannibal at the north end of the world.

Item History

What

Name
Bird Mask
Identification Number
A6334
Type of Item
mask
Material
wood, fibre, cedar bark, paint and metal
Manufacturing Technique
carved, hinged, nailed and painted
Overall
height 25.4 cm, width 19.4 cm, depth 63.3 cm

Who

Culture
Kwakwaka'wakw
Creator
Joe Seaweed (Maker)
Previous Owner
Willie Johnson
Received from
Willie Johnson (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Blunden Harbour, British Columbia, Canada ? or Ba'as, British Columbia, Canada ?
Collected in
Blunden Harbour, British Columbia, Canada and Ba'as, British Columbia, Canada

When

Creation Date
before 1953
Ownership Date
before December 22, 1953
Acquisition Date
on December 22, 1953

Other

Condition
fair
Current Location
Case 22
Accession Number
1983/0005