Mask Item Number: A1782 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Carved wooden Tanis mask painted black with a small bear's head above the main head. The face has bulging eyes in deeply recessed orbitals and a nose with rounded red protrusions on each side of a central semi-circle. Wide, natural wood coloured mouth outlined in red with bared teeth outlined in black. The eyes on both faces are detailed in brown on the right side and white on the left; holes under eyes.
Narrative
Raley catalogue (1934) states: "Kitlope. Bear Mask. (The above group of three [A1782, A1783, A1784] were found near remains of a big man supposedly a Chief. ...They were the property of a secret society with capital powers and from whose authority there was no appeal.)" C.M. Barbeau (1939) described the mask as: "Hamatsa mask from Gardner's Inlet; part of a group of 3." (From Barbeau photo notes, in the Archives at the Canadian Museum of History.)
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada before 1897
- Collected in Kitlope, British Columbia, Canada during 1897
- Owned by George Henry Raley before November 1948
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and George Henry Raley (Seller) during November 1948
What
- Name
- Mask
- Identification Number
- A1782
- Type of Item
- mask
- Material
- cotton fibre, cinnabar mineral, graphite mineral, yellow cedar wood ?, metal and paint
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved and painted
- Overall
- height 46.0 cm, width 26.0 cm, depth 28.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Haisla
- Previous Owner
- George Henry Raley
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and George Henry Raley (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Kitlope, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1897
- Collection Date
- during 1897
- Ownership Date
- before November 1948
- Acquisition Date
- during November 1948
Other
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 1960/0187