Mask Item Number: A6269 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Large, carved, wooden, raven hamatsa mask with a long beak and a slight protrusion for a nose. The beak is hinged with pieces of leather nailed to either side. The beak is painted black with a red mouth and cutout nostrils. Around the nose are red U-forms and white incised lines. The eyes are white, outlined in black on a white, ovoid shaped background; brow is black. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of twine used to open and close the beak. There are two pieces of wood that extend from the inside that are used to help support the mask when worn. The top, side and bottom edges of the mask are lined with braided cedar. The top has short pieces of cedar creating a fringe, while the back has longer strips that hang over the wearer. The underside of the mouth is painted black with a small white design. The mask is painted black, red, and white with Northwest Coast stylized designs.
History Of Use
Worn by Hamats!a dancer. A stick, fastened to the back of the mask, was used to secure it to the wearer.
Iconographic Meaning
Represents Huxhukw of Heaven, HuxhugwaXtawe', one of the servants of Baxbakwalanuksiwe', Cannibal at North End of the World.
Narrative
The Dick Price maker attribution was from Bill Holm.
Item History
- Made by Dick Price (Maker) in British Columbia, Canada before 1936
- Collected in Hope Island, British Columbia, Canada and Xwamdasbe', British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Chief Jim Humchitt before October 20, 1953
- Received from Chief Jim Humchitt (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) on October 20, 1953
What
- Name
- Mask
- Identification Number
- A6269
- Type of Item
- mask
- Material
- fibre, leather skin, cedar bark, wood, paint and eagle feather
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved, hinged and painted
- Overall
- height 33.0 cm, width 31.0 cm, depth 190.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Creator
- Dick Price (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- Chief Jim Humchitt
- Received from
- Chief Jim Humchitt (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Hope Island, British Columbia, Canada and Xwamdasbe', British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1936
- Ownership Date
- before October 20, 1953
- Acquisition Date
- on October 20, 1953
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 35
- Accession Number
- 1992/0007