Mask Item Number: A4019 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Carved wooden, crooked beak mask. The beak has a large red, ovoid shaped nostrils outlined with a band of black u-forms around it. Running from the brow is a large central black frill that protrudes outward and curves inward to the centre tip of the beak and back into itself. The mouth is red, flat and protruding; a band of black u-forms lines the upper beak and three red u-forms behind the corner of the beak. The face is black with white detailing; black and white u-forms behind the eye. The eyes are black, outlined in white and red on a white ovoid shaped ground; brow is black. The underside of the beak is black with u-forms around the edge. The inside of the mask is hollow; strips of fibre twine hang in intervals along the bottom edge. Attached to the top is a wooden crest with red split u-forms on a white ground. On the top are many bundles of small stripes of cedar bark that have numerous tufts of eagle down intertwined. Hanging from the back are long strips of cedar that would cover the wearer; a piece of fibre twine groups the long stripes together. The mask is painted black, white and red with Northwest Coast stylized forms.
History Of Use
Worn by Hamats!a.
Iconographic Meaning
Represents Crooked Beak of Heaven, Galugwadzawe', servant of Cannibal at the North End of the World, Baxbakwalanuksiwe'.
Item History
- Made by Chief George (Maker) in British Columbia, Canada before 1953
- Collected in Blunden Harbour, British Columbia, Canada and Ba'as, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Chief George Walkus
- Owned by Tom Johnson before April 28, 1953
- Received from Tom Johnson (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) on April 28, 1953
What
- Name
- Mask
- Identification Number
- A4019
- Type of Item
- mask
- Material
- eagle down feather, wood, cedar bark, fibre, paint and metal
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved and painted
- Overall
- height 49.1 cm, width 30.7 cm, depth 54.3 cm
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Creator
- Chief George (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- Chief George Walkus and Tom Johnson
- Received from
- Tom Johnson (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Blunden Harbour, British Columbia, Canada and Ba'as, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1953
- Ownership Date
- before April 28, 1953
- Acquisition Date
- on April 28, 1953
Other
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 37
- Accession Number
- 2017/0002