Crooked Beak Mask Item Number: A3537 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Carved wooden, crooked beak mask. The beak has large red, ovoid shaped nostrils outlined with a row of black and yellow u and split u forms running towards the eye. 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. The mouth is red, flat and protruding; bottom part of jaw is hinged with rectangular pieces of rubber. Inside of the beak is lined with a row of copper, u shaped teeth. The face is black with white detailing. The eyes are black and white, outlined in white and red on a white, ovoid shaped ground; brow is black. The underside of the beak is black with a white stylized design. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of twisted twine pieces through the lower beak to articulate the mask. Attached to the top is a wooden crest with red split u-forms on a white ground; small bundles of cedar line the edge of the crest. Along the bottom of the crest and side of the mask are thin twisted cedar braids. Hanging from the top and sides are long strips of cedar that would cover the wearer. Intertwined in the long pieces are a few feathers and eagle down. The mask is painted black, white, red and yellow with Northwest Coast stylized forms.
History Of Use
Worn by Hamats!a dancer.
Iconographic Meaning
Represents Crooked Beak of the Sky, Galugwadze', one of the servants of the cannibal at the north end of the world, Baxbakwalanuxsiwe'.
Item History
- Made by Willie Seaweed (Maker) in Blunden Harbour, British Columbia, Canada ? or Ba'as, British Columbia, Canada ? before 1951
- Collected in Kingcome Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Ukwanalis, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Tommy Willie before October 1951
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Tommy Willie (Seller) during October 1951
What
- Name
- Crooked Beak Mask
- Identification Number
- A3537
- Type of Item
- mask
- Material
- cedar wood, cedar bark, copper metal, down feather, feather, synthetic rubber, fibre and paint
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved, hinged and painted
- Overall
- height 38.3 cm, width 22.1 cm, depth 69.3 cm
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Creator
- Willie Seaweed (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- Tommy Willie
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Tommy Willie (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Blunden Harbour, British Columbia, Canada ? or Ba'as, British Columbia, Canada ?
- Collected in
- Kingcome Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Ukwanalis, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1951
- Ownership Date
- before October 1951
- Acquisition Date
- during October 1951
Other
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 22
- Accession Number
- 1985/0002