Mask Item Number: A3813 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Carved wooden, crooked beak mask. The beak has red and white ovoid shaped nostrils with split u forms behind it, all carved in shallow relief. Running from the brow is a large, protruding, central black and white square shaped frill that projects upwards and curves downwards to the top, tip of the beak; detailed with a large cutout u-form. Curling from the top edge of the head is a smaller, circular red and white frill with a band of black u-forms. The mouth is red, flat, wide and protruding. The underside of the beak is black with two ovoids and a u-form. The bottom parts of the beak are hinged with rectangular pieces of rubber. The eyes are black, outlined in white and black on a white ovoid shaped ground; the brow is black. Behind the eye are two black and white u and split u-forms. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of pieces of fibre twine to articulate the beak. The top and sides have cedar braids and small bundles; longer strips hang down the back. The mask is painted black, white and red with Northwest Coast stylized forms.
History Of Use
Worn by Hamats!a dancer.
Iconographic Meaning
Represents Crooked Beak of Heaven, Galugwadzawe', one of the servants of cannibal at the north end of the world, Baxwbakwalanuxsiwe'.
Cultural Context
ceremonial
Item History
- Made by Dick Price (Maker) in British Columbia, Canada before 1936
- Collected in Fort Rupert, British Columbia, Canada and Tsaxis, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by James Knox before April 1952
- Received from James Knox (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) during April 1952
What
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Creator
- Dick Price (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- James Knox
- Received from
- James Knox (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Fort Rupert, British Columbia, Canada and Tsaxis, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1936
- Ownership Date
- before April 1952
- Acquisition Date
- during April 1952
Other
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 35
- Accession Number
- 1858/0011