Undersea Chief Mask Item Number: A8415 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Mask with hooked nose, protruding eyebrows and round holes with protruding rims in cheeks, jaw and chin. The mask is painted with black and red circles just above the heavy black eyebrows, green around the eyes and on the nose, which has red nostrils, red lips, red around the protruding holes, and black on the sides of the cheeks and on the chin.
Narrative
Made for a Quatsino family in 1905. Owned and used by them until 1960's. Bella Coola style (catalogue card).
Iconographic Meaning
Represents the Undersea chief: Q!umugwe'. The holes in the mask are anemones: 'mismsla (J. Seaweed, 1966).
Item History
- Made in Quatsino, British Columbia, Canada and Xwatis, British Columbia, Canada during 1905
- Owned by Edward F. Meade before December 1963
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Edward F. Meade (Seller) during December 1963
What
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- Edward F. Meade
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Edward F. Meade (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Quatsino, British Columbia, Canada and Xwatis, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- during 1905
- Ownership Date
- before December 1963
- Acquisition Date
- during December 1963
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 40
- Accession Number
- 0103/0001