Mask Item Number: A6554 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Large, carved, wooden, raven hamatsa mask with a long beak and an ovoid shaped protrusion for a nose. The beak is hinged with pieces of rubber nailed to either side. The beak is painted black with a red mouth and cutout nostrils. Around the mouth are red U-forms. Along the ridge of the beak are red U-forms on a white background. The protruding eyes are white, outlined in black on a red background; brow is black. Above the brow are two ear-like structures with red painted U-forms. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of twine used to open and close the beak. The top has long strips of cedar that hang over the wearer. Intermixed in the fridge are black, raven ? feathers. The mask is painted black, red, and white with Northwest Coast stylized designs.
History Of Use
Worn by hamats!a dancer. Used at a potlatch by one of the servants of Baxbakwalanuksiwe', Cannibal at the North End of the World. See Boas, 1895, Fig. 48, p. 449.
Narrative
Last used around 1920 at a potlatch given by Tom Patch Wamiss (D. Hawkins, 1966).
Cultural Context
ceremonial
Iconographic Meaning
Represents Huxhukw of Heaven: Huxhugwaxtawe', one of the servants of baxbakwalanuxsiwe', cannibal at the north end of the world.
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada before 1952
- Collected in Village Island, British Columbia, Canada and 'Mimkwamlis, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Jim Charlie before April 2, 1952
- Received from Jim Charlie (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) on April 2, 1952
What
- Name
- Mask
- Identification Number
- A6554
- Type of Item
- mask
- Material
- feather, cedar bark, wood, paint, synthetic rubber and metal
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved, hinged and painted
- Overall
- height 36.0 cm, width 29.5 cm, depth 170.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- Jim Charlie
- Received from
- Jim Charlie (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Village Island, British Columbia, Canada and 'Mimkwamlis, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1952
- Ownership Date
- before April 2, 1952
- Acquisition Date
- on April 2, 1952
Other
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 35
- Accession Number
- 1851/0004