Mask Item Number: A5324 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Mask depicting Bukwus with wooden face carved with a prominent brow, a recurved nose, and a pursed, open mouth. Black hair is attached over the eyebrows. leather is attached at the sides, and oil cloth covers a twig frame at the back. Feathers attached to leather strips at side of head. Traces of green, red and black paint.
Iconographic Meaning
Represents the Wild Man of the Woods, Bak'was, or Bukwus. All his behaviour was strange and somewhat dangerous, for he hoped to entice humans to eat his diet of ghost food and become fellow inhabitants of his invisible house. Bookwus' home could also be a dwelling place for the spirits of the drowned. The non-human nature of Bookwus is reflected by his bird-like hopping motion and his frequent visits to the seashore in search of cockles. A clapper of cockle shells is often carried by Bukwus.
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Walter C. Koerner before 1972
- Received from Walter C. Koerner (Donor) during 1972
What
- Name
- Mask
- Identification Number
- A5324
- Type of Item
- mask
- Material
- wood, human hair, cotton fibre ?, leather skin and feather
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved, stapled and nailed
- Overall
- height 30.5 cm, width 23.0 cm, depth 29.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- Walter C. Koerner
- Received from
- Walter C. Koerner (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
When
- Ownership Date
- before 1972
- Acquisition Date
- during 1972
Other
- Condition
- poor
- Current Location
- Case 41
- Accession Number
- 0160/0063