Mask Item Number: A6173 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Carved wooden, crooked beak mask. The beak has large red tear shaped nostrils with three orange u-forms with a band of black and white split u forms around the top. Running from the brow is a large central black frill that protrudes outward and curves downwards to the centre of the beak; decorated with black and white u-forms. The mouth is red, flat and protruding. The underside of the beak is black with a natural split u-form. The bottom parts of the beak are hinged with rectangular pieces of leather. The eyes are black, outlined in white and orange on a white ovoid shaped ground; brow is black. There are three orange u-forms behind the eyes and the corner of the beak. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of pieces of fibre twine that articulates the beak. Attached to the top is a wooden crest with red split u-forms on a white ground. The inner top has small bundles of small stripes of cedar bark; on the back are long strips of bark. Hanging from the bottom edge are pieces of twine that hold remnants of cedar strips that have white feathers tied on. The mask is painted black, white, orange and red with Northwest Coast stylized forms.
History Of Use
Worn by Hamats!a dancer.
Iconographic Meaning
Represents Crooked Beak of Heaven, Galugwze', one of the servants of Baxbakwalanuxsiwe': cannibal at the north end of the world.
Item History
- Made by Chief George Walkus (Maker) in British Columbia, Canada before 1953
- Collected in Smith Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Takus, British Columbia, Canada during 1953
- Owned by Chief George Walkus before August 21, 1953
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Chief George Walkus (Seller) on August 21, 1953
What
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Creator
- Chief George Walkus (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- Chief George Walkus
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Chief George Walkus (Seller)
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
- Collection Date
- during 1953
- Ownership Date
- before August 21, 1953
- Acquisition Date
- on August 21, 1953
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 37
- Accession Number
- 1971/0001