Mask Item Number: A6174 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Carved wooden, crooked beak mask. The beak has large red ovoid shaped nostrils with red and white split u forms on either side as well as a band of black and white split u-forms above. Running from the brow is a large central black frill that protrudes outward and curves downward to the centre of the beak. The mouth is red, flat and protruding with bands of orange and black u-forms running above and below. The bottom parts of the beak are hinged with rectangular pieces of leather. The eyes are black, outlined in white and red 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 pieces of fibre twine that articulates the beak. Attached at the top are small bundles of small stripes of cedar bark; small piece of eagle down intertwined. Hanging from the back are long strips of bark. 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, Galugwadzawe', one of the servants of cannibal at the north end of the world: Baxbakwalanuxsiwe'.
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada before 1953
- Collected in Smith Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Takus, British Columbia, Canada
- 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
- Name
- Mask
- Identification Number
- A6174
- Type of Item
- mask
- Material
- fibre, leather skin, cedar bark, wood, paint, metal and eagle down feather
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved, hinged and painted
- Overall
- height 45.8 cm, width 23.2 cm, depth 79.3 cm
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- 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
- Ownership Date
- before August 21, 1953
- Acquisition Date
- on August 21, 1953
Other
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 37
- Accession Number
- 1971/0002