Raven Mask Item Number: A3673 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Carved bird mask with a long beak and oval shaped cutout nostrils. The beak is hinged with pieces of leather on either side, nailed to the lower mouth. The beak and nostrils are painted black with red edging and white detailing. There are numerous white U-forms extending from the back of the mouth to around the nose. The eye is outlined in black on a white, ovoid shaped background; eyebrow is black. The top of the head is decorated with cedar bark fringe and black feathers. Long strips of cedar run down the back, sides and front of the opening. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of a long rectangular shaped, wooden handle and attached twine cords. The mask is painted black, red and white.

History Of Use

Used in dances of Hamats!a. A stick is attached to the top of the mask which is secured to the wearer's chest to hold the mask in position.

Cultural Context

ceremonial

Iconographic Meaning

Mask representing Raven at the north end of the world: Gwaxgwaxwalanuxsiwe'.

Item History

What

Name
Raven Mask
Identification Number
A3673
Type of Item
mask
Material
wood, cedar bark, feather, paint, leather skin and metal
Manufacturing Technique
carved, hinged and painted
Overall
height 86.7 cm, width 31.7 cm, depth 113.0 cm

Who

Culture
Kwakwaka'wakw
Previous Owner
Chief Williams
Received from
H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Chief Williams (Seller)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
British Columbia, Canada
Collected in
Hopetown, British Columbia, Canada and Hegam's, British Columbia, Canada

When

Creation Date
before 1951
Ownership Date
before November 1951
Acquisition Date
during November 1951

Other

Condition
fair
Accession Number
1922/0003