Mask

Item number A6551 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Large, carved, wooden, raven hamatsa mask with a long, wide beak and large 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 white, red and black U-forms. The eyes are white, outlined in black on a white, ovoid shaped background; brow is black and white with black spots. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of piece of cedar twine used to open and close the beak. The top of the head has a slight triangular shape. Pieces of cedar used to be attached along the top ridge of the beak. The underside of the mouth is painted black with a white stripe running down the middle and a circular design left unpainted. The mask is painted black, red, and white with Northwest Coast stylized designs.

History Of Use

Worn by Hamats!a dancer. See Boas, 1895, Fig. 76, p. 447, pl. 31.

Iconographic Meaning

Represents Raven at the North End of the World, Gwaxgwaxwalanuxsiwe', one of the servants of cannibal at the north end of the world BaxBakwakanuxsiwe'.