Whale Mask Item Number: A1596 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Mask or headdress representing a whale with moveable dorsal fin, tail fin, and pectoral fins, a large flat mouth with a movable lower jaw, and cylindrical nostrils. The mask is painted black with concentric circles and ovals on the sides and head in white and red. The face is painted with black eyebrows,bordered in red and white, green around the eyes, black with an abstract white design on the cheeks, red and black designs above the white and red nostrils, black above the upper lip, and red lips. The fins are painted with designs in black, red, and white. Original tail flukes have been replaced by plain wooden carved pieces with painted and sewn cardboard cut-outs attached above.
Iconographic Meaning
Owner called it a Blackfish mask; killer whale: max'inux.
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada during 1850
- Collected in Kingcome Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Ukwanalis, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Hector Webb before 1953
- Received from Hector Webb (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) during 1953
What
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- Hector Webb
- Received from
- Hector Webb (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Kingcome Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Ukwanalis, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- during 1850
- Ownership Date
- before 1953
- Acquisition Date
- during 1953
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 40
- Accession Number
- 2306/0001