Mask Item Number: A4510 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Carved wooden, crooked beak mask. The beak has red and white circular shaped nostrils with many incised white c-shaped forms behind it. Running from the brow is a large, protruding, central black circular shaped frill that projects upwards and curves downwards to the top of the beak; detailed with a white outline. Running down the middle of the beak is a small, rectangular shape piece of wood, painted black and white to match the frill. The mouth is red, flat, wide and protruding. The underside of the beak is black with small eagle’s head carved in relief; beak hinged with a rectangular piece of metal. The eyes are black ovoids, outlined in white and red on a grey ovoid shaped ground; the brow is black. The inside of the mask is hollow. Attached to the top and sides are small bundles of cedar. The mask is painted black, red, grey, white and green with Northwest Coast stylized forms.
History Of Use
Worn by Hamats!a dancer.
Iconographic Meaning
Represents Crooked Beak of Heaven, Galugwadzawe', one servant of Baxbakwalanuksiwe', Cannibal at the north end of the world.
Narrative
Owned previously by Hector Webb's uncle.
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada during 1850
- Collected in Kingcome Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Ukwanalis, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Hector Webb before 1953
- Received from Hector Webb (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) during 1953
What
- Name
- Mask
- Identification Number
- A4510
- Type of Item
- mask
- Material
- metal, cedar bark, cedar wood, paint and eagle down feather
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved, painted and hinged
- Overall
- height 44.6 cm, width 25.8 cm, depth 86.3 cm
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- Hector Webb
- Received from
- Hector Webb (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Kingcome Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Ukwanalis, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- during 1850
- Ownership Date
- before 1953
- Acquisition Date
- during 1953
Other
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 35
- Accession Number
- 2305/0001