Bird Mask Item Number: A3674 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Large, carved, wooden, raven hamatsa mask with a long beak and thin, s-shaped cutout nostrils. The beak is hinged with pieces of leather nailed to either side. The beak is painted black with a red mouth and nose. At the back of the nose are three triangles, outlined in white. The eyes are white, outlined in black, on a red, ovoid shaped background; brow is black. In front of the eye are three white U-forms and under the eye are five white s-shapes. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of twine used to open and close the beak. 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 there are a few longer pieces on the sides. There are three feathers intertwined in the cedar. The bottom is black with white U-forms. The mask is painted black, red, and white with Northwest Coast stylized designs.
History Of Use
Worn by Hamats!a.
Iconographic Meaning
Represents Raven at the north end of the world, Gwaxgwaxwalanuksiwe', one servant of Cannibal at the north end of the world, Baxbakwalanuksiwe'.
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada before 1951
- Collected in Hopetown, British Columbia, Canada and Hegam's, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Chief Williams before November 1951
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Chief Williams (Seller) during November 1951
What
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
- good
- Current Location
- Case 37
- Accession Number
- 1922/0004