Mask Item Number: A4096 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Carved wooden, crooked beak mask. The beak has long, exaggerated, protruding nostrils with two large u-shaped openings in the front; many incised white s-shaped forms behind it. Running from the brow is a large, protruding, central black and white circular frill that projects upwards and curves downwards to the middle of the beak. The mouth is red, flat, wide and protruding. The underside of the beak is black; hinged with rectangular pieces of rubber. The eyes are black ovoids on an ovoid shaped ground; the brow is black. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of pieces of fibre twine to articulate the beak. Attached to the top are many small cedar bundles with a piece of eagle down intertwined. The mask was painted black, red and white with Northwest Coast stylized forms but is mostly black due to being burnt by fire.

History Of Use

Worn by Hamats!a dancer.

Iconographic Meaning

Represents Crooked Beak of Heaven, Galugwadzawe', one of the servants of Baxwbakwalanuxsiwe', cannibal at the north end of the world.

Cultural Context

ceremonial

Narrative

Mask is said to have been in a fire (Bill Holm).

Item History

What

Name
Mask
Identification Number
A4096
Type of Item
mask
Material
fibre, cedar wood, cedar bark, paint, synthetic rubber and metal
Manufacturing Technique
carved, painted and bored
Overall
height 27.8 cm, width 24.2 cm, depth 65.7 cm

Who

Culture
Kwakwaka'wakw
Previous Owner
Emily Watson
Received from
H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Emily Watson (Seller)

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
before 1952
Ownership Date
before October 1952
Acquisition Date
during October 1952

Other

Condition
fair
Current Location
Case 37
Accession Number
1874/0005