Mask Item Number: A4133 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Carved wooden, crooked beak mask with three smaller crooked beaked birds on the top and sides. Each small bird has an open beak and is detailed in a similar fashion to the larger mask. The beak has red u-shaped nostrils detailed with white s-shapes and a central frill that protrudes out and curves inward to the centre of the beak. The mouth is red, flat and protruding; bottom part of jaw is hinged with rectangular pieces of leather. The face is black with white and red detailing. The eyes are white outlined in black and red on a white, ovoid shaped ground; brow is black. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of twisted fibre twine to secure the mask to the head. Attached to the top and side edges are short, bundled cedar stripes. 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 Baxbakwalanuxsiwe', cannibal at the north end of the world.
Narrative
Inherited from Sarah Johnson's grandfather, Leslie Nelson to his son Alex Nelson, to Alex's son Leslie Nelson, to Alex's grandson William Johnson Jr., who was supposed to be dancing with it in 1950, but someone else danced for him. It is an old Nelson family 'heirloom' from Kingcome.
Item History
- Made by Jim Howard (Maker) in British Columbia, Canada before 1940
- Collected in Hopetown, British Columbia, Canada and Hegam's, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Alex Nelson and Leslie Nelson
- Owned by Sarah Johnson before October 1952
- Received from Sarah Johnson (Seller) during October 1952
What
- Name
- Mask
- Identification Number
- A4133
- Type of Item
- mask
- Material
- wood, cedar bark, paint, metal, leather skin and fibre
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved, painted and nailed
- Overall
- height 44.2 cm, width 35.4 cm, depth 60.2 cm
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Creator
- Jim Howard (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- Alex Nelson, Leslie Nelson and Sarah Johnson
- Received from
- Sarah Johnson (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Hopetown, British Columbia, Canada and Hegam's, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1940
- Ownership Date
- before October 1952
- Acquisition Date
- during October 1952
Other
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 37
- Accession Number
- 2316/0001