Mask Item Number: A17138 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Carved wooden, crooked beak mask (parts a-b). The face (part a) has red and green flared nostrils with a central frill that curls down into the middle of the nose. The mouth (part b) is red, flat, protruding and was hinged to the head with thin rectangular pieces of leather. The face is black with white edging and detailing; black and red outlined eyes on a green, ovoid shaped background; brow is black. The inside of the mask is hollow. Attached to the top ridge are small tufts of cedar stripes. The mask is painted black, green, red and white with Northwest Coast stylized forms.
History Of Use
Worn by women dancers, the mask was distinguished by the elaborate carving over the nostril.
Narrative
Innovative Kwakwaka'wakw artists took advantage of new colours when available, such as the addition of maroon and grey colours to the traditional black, white and red used on these masks.
Iconographic Meaning
Crooked Beak of the Sky, Galugwadzawe'.
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Walter C. Koerner before January 1973
- Received from Walter C. Koerner (Donor) during January 1973
What
- Name
- Mask
- Identification Number
- A17138
- Type of Item
- mask
- Material
- cedar bark, wood, paint, metal and leather skin
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved and painted
- Part A
- height 18.3 cm, width 22.1 cm, depth 51.2 cm
- Part B
- height 2.8 cm, width 18.9 cm, depth 33.4 cm
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- Walter C. Koerner
- Received from
- Walter C. Koerner (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
When
- Ownership Date
- before January 1973
- Acquisition Date
- during January 1973
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 35
- Accession Number
- 0233/0004