Mask Item Number: A3806 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Carved, wooden, supernatural raven mask with a long beak and circular, cutout nostrils. The beak is hinged with piece of rubber on either side; nailed shut. The beak is painted black with red nostrils and mouth. There are s-shapes carved by the nostrils with red paint around. Above the nostrils is a protrusion. The eyes are white, outlined in black on a white, ovoid shaped background; brow is black. Attached to the top of the head are short strips of cedar bark creating a fringe. The inside of the mask is hollow. The mask is painted black, red, and white with Northwest Coast stylized designs.
History Of Use
Worn by Hamats!a dancer.
Iconographic Meaning
Represents Hukxhukw of Heaven, huxhugwaxtawe', one of the servants of cannibal at the north end of the world, Baxbakwalanuxsiwe' (J. Dick, 1966).
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada during 1930
- Collected in Kingcome Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Ukwanalis, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Tommy Willie before July 1952
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Tommy Willie (Seller) during July 1952
What
- Name
- Mask
- Identification Number
- A3806
- Type of Item
- mask
- Material
- leather skin, cedar bark, red cedar wood and paint
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved, painted, hinged and nailed
- Overall
- height 26.3 cm, width 23.2 cm, depth 100.6 cm
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- Tommy Willie
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Tommy Willie (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Kingcome Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Ukwanalis, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- during 1930
- Ownership Date
- before July 1952
- Acquisition Date
- during July 1952
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 36
- Accession Number
- 1986/0001