Mask Item Number: A6178 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Mask with a furrowed brow, bulging round eyes, gill slits on temples and cheeks, pursed lips, and four holes in each cheek. A loon figure with a rotating head is perched on top of the mask. Red, green, black, white and orange. The mask is painted with heavy black brows underlined with red, green around the eyes and over the nose, red nostrils, black cheeks and temples, a black moustache, red lips, and a grey chin. The loon is painted with black eyebrows, green around the eyes, orange edges on the beak, black bands and black dots around the neck, grey on the top of the body and white on the sides and chest. The holes in the face represent air bubbles.
Iconographic Meaning
Represents Undersea Chief: Q!umugwe'. The holes in the face represent air bubbles (C. George, 1966).
Item History
- Made by Charlie George Sr. (Maker) in British Columbia, Canada before 1953
- Collected in Smith Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Takus, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Chief George Walkus before August 21, 1953
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Chief George Walkus (Seller) on August 21, 1953
What
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Creator
- Charlie George Sr. (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- Chief George Walkus
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Chief George Walkus (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Smith Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Takus, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1953
- Ownership Date
- before August 21, 1953
- Acquisition Date
- on August 21, 1953
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 40
- Accession Number
- 1971/0006