Moon Mask
Datec. 1879
Mediumwood, mammal sinew, fibre
DimensionsOther: 35 × 39 cm (13 3/4 × 15 3/8 in.)
ClassificationsCeremonial Objects
Paper Field ReferencesCMH VII-B-19
Object numberHRC 00019
Descriptionmoon mask. carved face, holes cut out for eye pupils. mouth opened. lips and nostrils painted red. inside of eyes and eyebrows painted black. rest of face is natural. flaring wood border extends around face. many holes in that border, some blackish. two splits in one side, one repaired with fibre cord. cord of braided sinew passed through 2 holes and knotted at top of head. back of mask roughly hollowed out with a large knob carved in centre. hole in centre of knob. this mask is Bella Coola Style, both in the carving and the finish ( Peter Macnair, Curator of Ethnology, B.C. Provincial Museum June 1972 ).description from 'Haida Art' - a moon mask with robust male features. there are traces of a cloth hood that was once attached to it. the style of broad face and thick lips looks is similar to Heiltsuk masks but may have been used by Haida to suggest the full face of the Moon.
Published References'Haida Art' - George MacDonald, page 85, 84 (description)
On View
Not on viewCollections
c. 1879
c.1884
1895-1901
C. 1879
c. 1884
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1879
c. 1879
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c. 1879
c. 1879