Mask Item Number: A6170 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Carved wooden, crooked beak headdress, or mask. The beak has red circular shaped nostrils with a central frill that curves inward to the centre of the beak. The mouth is red, flat and protruding; bottom part of jaw is hinged with rectangular pieces of leather. The face is black with white detailing. The eyes are black on a white, ovoid shaped ground; brow is black. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of a piece twisted twine through the lower beak; twine ties on either side of the bottom, back edge of the mask. Attached to the top and side edges are short, bundles cedar stripes; longer pieces of cedar hang down the back. The mask is painted black, white and red with Northwest Coast stylized forms.

History Of Use

Worn by the female attendant, hiligaxste', in taming the Hamats!a dancer.

Iconographic Meaning

Represents Crooked Beak of Heaven, Galugwadzawe', one of the servants of cannibal at the north end of the world, Baxbakwalanuxsiwe'.

Cultural Context

ceremonial

Item History

What

Name
Mask
Identification Number
A6170
Type of Item
mask
Material
wood, fibre, cedar bark, paint, metal and leather skin
Manufacturing Technique
carved and painted
Overall
height 26.1 cm, width 38.2 cm, depth 72.4 cm

Who

Culture
Kwakwaka'wakw
Creator
Johnny Nolie (Maker)
Previous Owner
Joe Johnny
Received from
Joe Johnny (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
British Columbia, Canada
Collected in
Smith Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Takus, British Columbia, Canada

When

Creation Date
before 1953
Ownership Date
before June 16, 1953
Acquisition Date
on June 16, 1953

Other

Condition
good
Current Location
Case 35
Accession Number
1950/0004