Mask

Item number A6152 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Wooden, carved, bear mask with a long snout painted black with red edging. The jaw is hinged with metal wire on either side to the lower mouth. Nose, eyebrows and iris covered with copper. The face has white edging around the green ovoid-like shape with copper eyes on white background. Mouth opens with a copper stripe for teeth. The head is covered in nails with remnants of a skin. One ear nailed to the head and is painted black and red. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of an attached twine cord that would have assisted the mouth in opening. A strip of separate wood has been nailed to the bridge of the nose as a possibly repair. The mask is painted black, green, red and white with Northwest Coast stylized designs.

Cultural Context

ceremonial

Iconographic Meaning

Represents bear: nan. Copper trim usually symbolizes wealth associated with the undersea world, in which case this mask may represent sea-bear: na'nis. See Boas, 1895, Pl. 32; see also Boas, 1905-1909, p. 521, Pl. L, Fig. 3.