Mask Item Number: A6117 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Carved wooden, crooked beak mask. The beak has large red, protruding oval shaped nostrils outlined with black u-forms. Running from the brow is a large central frill that protrudes outward and curves inward to the centre tip of the beak; detailed with black u-forms and an incised head in profile. The mouth is red, flat and protruding; bottom part of jaw is hinged with rectangular pieces of rubber. The face is black with white detailing. The eyes are black, outlined in white and red on a white, ovoid shaped ground; brow is black. The underside of the beak has another, small carved bird head in black and white. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of rectangular wooden handle that is tied to the back of the mask with twisted twine. The beak has twine pieces through the lower beak to articulate the mask. Attached to the top, side and bottom ridge are twisted braids of cedar rope; longer cedar strips hang from the top. The mask is painted black, white and red with Northwest Coast stylized forms.
History Of Use
Worn by Hamats!a dancer.
Cultural Context
ceremonial
Iconographic Meaning
Represents Crooked Beak of Heaven, Galugwadzawe', one of the servants of Baxbakwalanuxsiwe', cannibal at the north end of the world.
Narrative
Thought by some to have been made by Tom Patch Wamiss. (T.D. Johnson, Dec. 12, 1961).
Item History
- Made by Tom Patch Wamiss ? (Maker) in British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in Kingcome Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Ukwanalis, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by James Dick before 1953
- Received from James Dick (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) during 1953
What
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Creator
- Tom Patch Wamiss ? (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- James Dick
- Received from
- James Dick (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Kingcome Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Ukwanalis, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Ownership Date
- before 1953
- Acquisition Date
- during 1953
Other
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 35
- Accession Number
- 1859/0013