A IMPORTANT NUXALK MASK

Details
A IMPORTANT NUXALK MASK
Probably a representation of a sea creature, with exaggerated features, thick protruding eyebrows extending down the sides, projecting nose with flaring nostrils, large circular eyes, pupils pierced in a conical eye orb, open mouth with protruding downward turned lips, distinct chin, details painted in black, blue and red, eye sockets and main surface blue, four U shaped designs in black on the eyebrows, lips and nostrils red
14in. (35.6cm.) high
Provenance
Collected at River' s Inlet c. 1920 by a storeowner, Mr. Hunt. Acquired by Dr. Green, 1945; Howard Roloff, 1986. Photograph PN 2633 in the archives of the Royal British Columbia Museum shows Hunt with this mask; another (PN2623) shows it with another being worn in a non- ceremonial context as seen above. This photograph courtesy of the Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, BC.

Lot Essay

Brown (1996) believes this mask represents a spirit having attributes of a sea creature and a human. It shares stylistic traits of both the Heiltsuk and Nuxalk traditions. Because of the intermingling of the two peoples in the area of Dean Channel and Kwatna, he believes the mask may have been made there, specifically at Kimsquit village between 1860-80. Alan Hoover (1986, p. 6) states "The mask's River's Inlet provenance and its expertly combined Northern Wakashan and Bella Coola traits make it an important piece in the definition of tribal styles."