Mask Item Number: A4288 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Headdress, or mask, with orange and red beak. The background of the face is white, with green, orange and black eye designs. The bird's eyebrows are black.
Iconographic Meaning
Represents Kulus, Thunderbird's younger brother. "Qulus is a kind of thunderbird, white like a swan, only bigger. At the head of Smiths Inlet lived a chief, whose daughter was loved by all the people. She died and some months later, an old man saw a great white bird sitting in the river, which runs in front of the village. The great bird came closer to the village and the dead girl emerged from its mouth. She was alive again" (E. Walkus, 1953).
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada before 1953
- Collected in Smith Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Takus, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Chief Edward Walkus before May 15, 1953
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Chief Edward Walkus (Seller) on May 15, 1953
What
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- Chief Edward Walkus
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Chief Edward 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
- Ownership Date
- before May 15, 1953
- Acquisition Date
- on May 15, 1953
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 1973/0003