Mask Item Number: A3606 a-g from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Mask (part g) with a rim around the top and sides, slightly raised eyes, raised cheekbones, and a mouth with downturned corners. The mask is painted with black scallops on red with a brown border around the rim, red scallop designs on a white forehead, black eyebrows, green around the eyes, brown scallop design under the eyes, red nostrils, green cheeks with brown and red circles, white over the upper lip with a black scalloped moustache, red lips, and a brown chin. The mask has six interchangeable mouthpieces: a) an oval mouth with red lips and protruding tongue, and one row of natural wood teeth; b) a mouth with downturned corners, red lips and a protruding tongue, and a row of natural wood teeth; c) pursed red lips; d) a v-shaped mouthpiece with brown lips and a red protruding tongue; e) a wide, closed mouth with brown and red lips; f) an elongated oval-shaped mouth with closed red lips.

Narrative

Originally from Bella Bella, transferred through marriage with Alice Hunt (M. Martin, 1951).

Iconographic Meaning

Mouth pieces represent grizzly bear, old man, Dzunuqwa and 3 of the creature's own (M. Martin, 1951).

Item History

What

Name
Mask
Identification Number
A3606 a-g
Type of Item
mask
Material
wood, paint, metal and fibre
Manufacturing Technique
carved, polished and nailed
Overall
height 14.0157 in, width 11.5 in, depth 7.0079 in

Who

Culture
Kwakwaka'wakw
Previous Owner
Alice Hunt and Jonathan Hunt
Received from
Jonathan Hunt (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
British Columbia, Canada
Collected in
Fort Rupert, British Columbia, Canada and Tsaxis, British Columbia, Canada

When

Creation Date
before 1951
Ownership Date
before November 1951
Acquisition Date
during November 1951

Other

Condition
fair
Accession Number
1913/0006 a-g