Northwest Coast Masks
Orb Upper cheek Forecheek
underbrow Eye socket Upper cheek
Northern Mask Styles
Haida Masks
Relatively naturalistic form, like skin over a skull
Gwaytihl c 1850
Gwaytihl 1880
Simeon Stilthda. 1880
Bill Holm 1978
Freida Diesing
Freida Diesing
Tsimshian Masks -Relatively naturalistic, like real skin over muscle and bone -Pyramid-shaped, pointed cheek formed by upper cheek, forecheek and cheek planes intersecting -thin, arched eyebrows -mouth wide, thin lips -forehead slopes back -eyelid incised
Pyramid-shaped, pointed cheek formed by upper cheek, forecheek and cheek planes intersecting upper cheek forecheek cheek Naxnox Mask
painting sometimes unrelated to facial structure (as here, in Naxnox mask, representing spirit beings manifesting selves as humans) Naxnox Mask
forehead slopes back Naxnox mask (has different Design on the other half)
forehead slopes back
-mouth wide, thin lips
eyelid incised
thin, arched eyebrows
Made of basalt;ffit inside each other
Used for ridicule performance: White man, 1880 Nisga a/tsimshian
Conceited white woman, 1870 Nishga a (Tsimshian)
Tlingit Masks -more blue paint used -cheeks don t form pyramid or point; instead slope down -often a rounded face (not here) -larger eyes than Tsimshian and Haida -relatively short chin, sometimes a wide mouth -strong lines around the mouth -still naturalistic, skin-like
-more blue paint used strong lines around the mouth
-cheeks don t form pyramid or come to a point; instead slope down -relatively short chin, sometimes a wide mouth
-often a rounded face
Shamanic masks---don t have to follow the typical stylistic rules
Central Coast Mask Carving Styles (Humanoids)
Northern Kwakwakawakw Masks
Northern Kwakwaka wakw Humanoid Masks More influence from Tsmimshan and Haida, neighbors to the north In many cases, rather naturalistic faces, with taut skin
Before 1831 Wearing labret, mouth ornament
Northern Kwakwaka wakw less naturalistic masks usually have: Long pointed eyebrows Well-defined orbs, which are large and leaf-shaped Orbs angled toward the ears Mouths that project forward somewhat Upper lips arching over horizontal lower lips (Eyelids sometimes left uncarved, only painted)
Long pointed eyebrows Large, leaf-shaped orbs, angled down towards ears Mouth projects forward somewhat, Often upper lip curved down, lower lip quite straight
Bella Coola (Nuxalk) Masks
Bella Coola (Nuxalk) Bulbous features Sculptural leaf-shaped orbs; meet brows and cheeks sharply Long eyebrows Eyes relatively small Forehead and chin are receding Flaring nostrils Slightly protruding mouth, tapered at corners, often both lips arched down/up Bold 3-D carving painting with U-forms (etc.), crossing planes of the face and facial features, often including blue Upper and lower lips usually meet but are not continuous
Receding forehead Leaf-shaped orbs Bulbous features Receding chin
Long eyebrows, not very pointy Flaring nostrils Mouth slightly open: top lip arches down, bottom lip arches up, not continuous
Eyes relatively small compared to the face Typical blue paint, U-forms, formal elements crossing over facial planes
This is Bella Coola. How is it different from the other Bella Coola masks?
Southern Kwakwakawakw Masks
Southern Kwakwaka wakw Bold carving Very 3-D Energetic, bright painting Clearly demarcated facial features with crisp transitions (in both carving and painting) Heavy eyebrows (not usually angular) Well-defined orb, often a truncated cone Eyes dominate; separate pupil painted Lips continuous bands; usually downturned
Bright painting, pupils painted separately Painting and carving both demarcate facial features
Heavy eyebrows, not usually angular Well-defined orb; Eye pupil is often truncated, Mouth down-turned and continuous
Bold, deep carving Pupils often truncated cones, painted circles
Bagwis. Mask confiscated in 1922 potlatch
Sea Monster
Nuu-chah-nulth and Makah Masks -form 2 intersecting planes meeting at sharp middle line -often different designs on right and left planes -strong eyebrows -no sculptural eyesocket (flat plane from eyes to mouth) -chin and jaw minimal -mouth often recedes back -often geometric designs
-no sculptural eyesocket (basically flat plane from eyes to mouth) -form 2 intersecting planes meeting at sharp middle line
strong eyebrows chin and jaw minimal -mouth & chin often recede way back
often geometric designs
Often different designs on the left & Sky on the right Sea
Coast Salish Masks -Many flat and frontal with 3 receding planes -eyebrow ridges emphasized, but with little arching -small eyes -small mouths -often unpainted, or very Moderately painted
Some are more 3-D, but still have: -small eyes and mouths -deep, barely arching brows -restrained painting
Central Coast Ranked Dancing Societies Must inherit membership Must be initiated into societies Reenacted encounter of ancestor with supernatural being Recreated ancestor s original spirit possession (suggesting crest connection to guardian spirit concept of the south) Used masks Used singing, drums, &/or wooden batons on log drums Emphasizing prestige of elite and publicly declaring supernatural connections (like north)
Major Dance Societies Apparently derived from the Northern Kwakwaka wakw; used throughout central region, with some variations in name and ritual. Basic types: Tseka/Kusiut (more destructive) Hamatsa (cannibal dance) Dluwulaxa/Sisaok/Tlasala (more restrained) Concluded with peace dance and northern style raven rattles and northern style clothing
Hamatsa origins Most prestigious dance of Tseka society of Heiltsuk Hunters entered house of Man-eater-of-northend-of-the-world (Bakbakwalanuxsiwe), hid in hole in center of house Bakbakwalanuxsiwe comes home with cannibal bird attendants; hunters witness the dances and songs, return home with them, masks, and regalia
Hamatsa initiate Goes out into the forest by himself for months Returns as a wild cannibal and bursts through the dance screen
Crooked Beak of Heavan, Cannibal Raven, two of Hamatsa dancers
Southern Kwakwaka wakw Hamatsa performers, photographed by the arresting officer who also confiscated all the ceremonial art.