Gift of Thomas Watters, Jr.

Gift of Thomas Watters, Jr.

Bequest of W.S. Morton Mead

Large horizontally rectangular painting. At the left of the composition are two male figures with brown skin fighting beside a case full of gold coins, while a male with pink skin and a white hat walks away from them at the right of centre. All three figures have shell-like heads. The right end of the painting has a wide grey stripe with four red rectangles and eight brown squares arranged in a vertical, linear pattern. Artist initials(?) or symbols and date painted at the bottom right, along the base of the tree.

Panel 16 in a series of 20 panels. Drawing of a Kwakwaka'wakw Thunderbird transformation mask showing the interior mask, and open left panel and bottom panel of the beak. The interior side of the beak holds a painting of an eye surrounded by red, green and black decoration and several green ridges. The interior mask has two small dark eyes with thick red brows, a small nose and a red mouth that angles down toward the outside. The strings controlling the moveable sides of the beak extend from it to the nose and side of the eye. The bottom of the beak hangs on a string from the chin. This panel corresponds with 2980/17 which shows the right portion of the beak. In the background is a receding landscape of tall trees and underbrush. Covered with plexi frame.

Panel 15 in a series of 20 panels. Monochromatic charcoal drawing of a Haida beaver bowl. In the centre of the picture at a slight angle sits the beaver’s face on the front of the bowl, large nose at centre, flared nostrils, and a large open mouth angled down at the sides with two long, protruding front teeth and several smaller, square teeth to each side. Eyes are large and dark, angling down toward the outside. Brows are heavy. In the background behind the mask is a landscape of tall trees and underbrush. Covered with plexi frame.

Panel 14 in a series of 20 panels. Monochromatic drawing of a Tlingit raven mask, in the shape of a bird head with open beak. The beak is light in colour and undecorated, curved at the end, and opened widely. The lower ventral portion is wrapped in fabric. The bird’s face shows an oblong eye with a heavy brow and a slightly wrinkled forehead. Behind the mask is a forest landscape of trees and underbrush. The rear portion of the head can be seen in drawing 2980/13. Covered with plexi frame.

Panel 13 in a series of 20 panels. Drawing of a Kwakwaka'wakw echo mask. The mask has small, hollow eyes, heavy black brows, a long nose with flared nostrils, and a small, partially open mouth. To either side of the mouth are light yellow hands presenting their palms to the viewer in a stance of calling. Short legs are drawn below with four brown toes dangling from each. The face is decorated in shades of green and yellow with an orange nose and mouth area, and dark panels on the cheeks and forehead. Brown hair tops the mask and flows down the back. A yellow ear hides among the hair. To the right of the mask is the monochromatic rear portion of a bird mask, the rest of which can be seen in object 2980/14. Covered with plexi frame.

Panel 7 in a series of 20 panels. Drawing of a Kwakwaka'wakw family crest mask. In the centre of the picture at a slight angle sits the mask, with a large, round, white panel decorated with green along the edges, two floating birds at top, two pink hands with fingers erect at bottom and a series of rectangular motifs radiating from the centre. In the middle of this panel protrudes a large round face with prominent nose and flared nostrils, an open mouth showing pointed teeth, round staring eyes and heavy brows. The face is coloured green and pink over a grey and black base. On the top centre of the forehead sits a high fin at a three quarter angle with a face drawn on its side. The fin is dark pink with green and black. In the background behind the mask in black, grey and white are masses of foliage, rocks and branches. The left side of the circular panel is on 2980/8 of this series. Covered with plexi frame.

Mask representing a woman-butterfly. The head and bare breasts are of a female human, whereas the lower body, wings and antennae are of a butterfly. The woman has long black hair and red skin. The wings are decorated on each side with a flower on the lower wing and a foliage-like pattern in the upper segment. Mask carved of wood, then coated in a plaster-like substance, before being painted.