Mask Item Number: A6352 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Mourner mask. White face mask, with elongated oval face. Two red coloured marks on each cheek. Three evenly spaced thin red lines next to each eye, toward the outside of the face. Nostrils and lips are red. Hair and eyebrow ridges are black. Cut-out eyes are outlined in black.
History Of Use
Mourning masks, such as this, were worn by the family of the deceased while the mourning songs were being sung, according to D. Roberts, 1966.
Iconographic Meaning
Represents a Koskimo: Gusglmukw woman. The marks on the cheeks represent self-inflected scratches during mourning (D. Hawkins, 1966).
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada before 1953
- Collected in Smith Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Takus, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by James Walkus before December 14, 1953
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and James Walkus (Seller) on December 14, 1953
What
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- James Walkus
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and James 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 December 14, 1953
- Acquisition Date
- on December 14, 1953
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 27
- Accession Number
- 1977/0002