Mask Item Number: A6544 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Mourner mask. Carved wooden mask with three painted horizontal orange lines on forehead, one on chin, simple orange design on lower cheek. Nose and lips also orange. Blue design around eyes and across bridge of the nose. Two copper strips, representing tears, run down the upper cheeks from the corners of each eye.
History Of Use
Mourning masks, such as this, were worn by the family of the deceased while the mourning songs were being sung, according to D. Roberts, 1966.
Iconographic Meaning
Copper strips represent tears: q!wasa (D. Robers, D. Hawkins, 1966).
Cultural Context
ceremonial
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada before 1952
- Collected in Village Island, British Columbia, Canada and 'Mimkwamlis, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Jim Charlie before December 16, 1952
- Received from Jim Charlie (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) on December 16, 1952
What
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- Jim Charlie
- Received from
- Jim Charlie (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Village Island, British Columbia, Canada and 'Mimkwamlis, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1952
- Ownership Date
- before December 16, 1952
- Acquisition Date
- on December 16, 1952
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 27
- Accession Number
- 1849/0005