Mask Item Number: A4321 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Carved, wooden, raven headdress, or mask, with a long beak and red circular cutout nostrils. The beak is hinged with fibre twine on either side. The beak is painted black with a red mouth. The eyes are white, outlined in black on a white, ovoid shaped background; brow is black. Attached to the top of the head are short strips of cedar bark creating a fringe. Tied to the sides and back is a long piece of braided cedar. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of an attached twine cord that assisted the beak in opening and shutting. The mask is painted black, white and red with Northwest Coast stylized designs.

History Of Use

Worn by female attendant, hiligaxste', in taming the Hamats!a dancer.

Iconographic Meaning

Represents Raven at the north end of the world, Gwaxgwaxwalanuxsiwe', one of the servants of Cannibal at the north end of the world, Baxbakwalanuxsiwe'.

Item History

What

Name
Mask
Identification Number
A4321
Type of Item
mask
Material
cedar bark, fibre, wood, paint, metal and eagle down feather
Manufacturing Technique
carved and painted
Overall
height 17.6 cm, width 23.8 cm, depth 64.2 cm

Who

Culture
Kwakwaka'wakw
Creator
Johnny Nolie (Maker)
Previous Owner
Johnny Nolie
Received from
H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Johnny Nolie (Seller)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
British Columbia, Canada
Collected in
Blunden Harbour, British Columbia, Canada and Ba'as, British Columbia, Canada

When

Creation Date
before 1953
Ownership Date
before May 20, 1953
Acquisition Date
on May 20, 1953

Other

Condition
fair
Current Location
Case 35
Accession Number
1943/0004