Mask Item Number: A6121 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Large, carved, wooden, raven hamatsa mask with a long beak and ovoid shaped cutout nostrils. The beak is hinged with pieces of leather nailed to either side. The beak is painted black with a red mouth and nose. At the back of the mouth is a U-form. Along the back of the nose to the back of the mouth are red split U-forms outlined in white. The eyes are white, outlined in black, surrounded by red on a white, ovoid shaped background; brow is black. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of twine used to open and close the beak along with a fibre head ring. The top and side edges of the mask are lined with braided cedar. The top has short pieces of cedar creating a fringe, while the back has longer strips that hang over the wearer. Intertwined in the cedar are pieces of eagle down. The mask is painted black, red, and white with Northwest Coast stylized designs.

History Of Use

Worn by hamats!a dancer.

Iconographic Meaning

Represents Raven at the North End of the World, Gwaxgwaxwalanuxsiwe', one of the servants of Baxwbakwalanuxsiwe', cannibal at the north end of the world.

Item History

What

Name
Mask
Identification Number
A6121
Type of Item
mask
Material
wood, cedar bark, paint, fibre, leather skin and metal
Manufacturing Technique
carved, nailed, painted and bored
Overall
height 21.7 cm, width 24.4 cm, depth 133.5 cm

Who

Culture
Kwakwaka'wakw
Creator
Joe Seaweed (Maker)
Previous Owner
Hector Webb and Alice Mountain
Received from
H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Alice Mountain (Seller)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Blunden Harbour, British Columbia, Canada ? or Ba'as, British Columbia, Canada ?
Collected in
Village Island, British Columbia, Canada and 'Mimkwamlis, British Columbia, Canada

When

Creation Date
before 1953
Ownership Date
before June 16, 1953
Acquisition Date
on June 16, 1953

Other

Condition
good
Current Location
Case 22
Accession Number
2010/0020