Mask Item Number: A4158 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Carved wooden, crooked beak mask. The beak has large red, ovoid shaped nostrils with multiple black and white u-forms behind it. Running from the brow is a large central black frill that protrudes outward and curves inward to the centre tip of the beak and back into itself. The ridge is cutout with three black and white u-forms. The mouth is red, flat and protruding. The bottom parts of the beak are hinged with rectangular pieces of rubber. The face is black with white detailing; there are black and white split u-forms behind the eyes. The eyes are black, outlined in white on a white ovoid shaped ground; brow is black. The underside of the beak is black. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of a piece of fibre twine that articulates the beak. Attached at the top inner tip is a small bundle of small stripes of cedar bark. Hanging from the bottom edge are long strips of cedar; few pieces of eagle down are intertwined. The mask is painted black, white and red with Northwest Coast stylized forms.
History Of Use
Worn by Hamats!a dancer.
Iconographic Meaning
Represents Crooked Beak of Heaven, Galugwadzawe', one servant of Baxbakwalanuksiwe', Cannibal at the north end of the world.
Galoxgumplh (Mungo Martin). It is a male galokwumhl because of the hole in the head (Tom Ohmid)
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada before 1952
- Collected in Village Island, British Columbia, Canada and 'Mimkwamlis, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Chief Harry Mountain before November 17, 1952
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Chief Harry Mountain (Seller) on November 17, 1952
What
- Name
- Mask
- Identification Number
- A4158
- Type of Item
- mask
- Material
- wood, cedar bark, synthetic rubber, cotton fibre, paint, metal and eagle down feather
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved, painted and hinged
- Overall
- height 32.9 cm, width 21.8 cm, depth 84.2 cm
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- Chief Harry Mountain
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Chief Harry Mountain (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Village Island, British Columbia, Canada and 'Mimkwamlis, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1952
- Ownership Date
- before November 17, 1952
- Acquisition Date
- on November 17, 1952
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 35
- Accession Number
- 2006/0005