Mask Item Number: A3536 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Carved wooden, crooked beak headdress, or mask. The beak has a large red, ovoid shaped nostrils outlined with two elongated red split u-forms behind it. Running from the brow is a large central frill that protrudes outward and curves inward to the centre tip of the beak and back into itself; detailed with black u-forms. The mouth is red, flat and protruding; jaw nailed shut. The face is black with white detailing; one black u-form behind the eye. The eyes are black, outlined in white and red on a white ovoid shaped ground; brow is black. The underside of the beak is black. The inside of the mask is hollow. Attached to the top are many bundles of small stripes of cedar bark; a braided cedar rope lines the top edge. Hanging from the back are long strips of cedar that would cover the wearer; a piece of fibre twine groups the long stripes together. There are a few tufts of eagle down in the cedar. The mask is painted black, white and red with Northwest Coast stylized forms.

History Of Use

Worn by female attendant in taming Hamats!a dancer.

Iconographic Meaning

Represents Crooked Beak of the Sky, Galugwadzawe', one servant of Cannibal at North End of the World, Baxbakwalanuksiwe'.

Narrative

Previously attributed to Willie Seaweed by Bill Holm, however Holm later decided it wasn't made by him - see Smoky Top, page 38.