Mask

Item number A3538 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Wooden, carved, supernatural bird mask with a long beak and oval shaped cutout nostrils. The beak is hinged with pieces of leather on either side, nailed to the lower mouth. The beak and nostrils are carved and painted black with red edging and white detailing. There are two red split U forms carved at the back of the beak running towards the nostril; two red U forms around the nostril. The eye is outlined in black on a white, ovoid-like shaped background; brow is black. The top of the head is decorated with a protruding, rectangular shaped, piece of wood that has red U forms painted on white background. There is a braid cedar bark along the bottom ‘neck’ of the bird. Long strips of cedar run down the back and side. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of an attached twine cords. The mask is painted black, red and white with Northwest Coast stylized designs.

History Of Use

Raven mask; part of the atłaamł dance series.

Iconographic Meaning

Represents Raven at the North End of the World, Gwaxgwaxwalanuxsiwe'.

Narrative

Fanny Wamiss thinks this mask may have been made by Tom Patch Wamiss. Stan and Spruce Wamiss noted that the plywood trim at top is unusual for this type of mask and may have been added later.