Forehead Mask of Raven

ca. 1880

A wide array of masks and headgear from coastal Native peoples feature Raven in many of his manifestations—culture hero, trickster, or supernatural being associated with family songs and dances. This elegant depiction of Raven carved in the skillful Nuxalk style was the property of a high-ranking man or woman who was a member of the sisaok society, sometimes referred to as the society of chiefs. The dancer’s regalia was associated with a special name, songs, and dance movements that were passed down and validated during potlatches.

Alder, red cedar bark, copper, pins, paint

Gift of John H. Hauberg

91.1.71

Now on view at the Seattle Art Museum

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, The Box of Daylight, September 15, 1983 - January 8, 1984

Published ReferencesThe Spirit Within: Northwest Coast Native Art from the John H. Hauberg Collection, Seattle Art Museum, 1995, pg. 182

Hendrick, Thomas. Seattle, Denver art museums bet artwork on Super Bowl, KWGN online, January 27, 2014, http://kwgn.com/2014/01/27/seattle-denver-art-museums-bet-artwork-on-super-bowl/

Super Bowl wager of native mask upsets B.C. First Nation, CBC news, January 28, 2014, http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/super-bowl-wager-of-native-mask-upsets-b-c-first-nation-1.2513950

Griffin, Kevin, Seattle, Denver art museums wager loans of art on Super Bowl outcome, Vancouver Sun, January 29, 2014, http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/museums+Denver+Seattle+wager+loans+Super+Bowl+outcome/9436719/story.html

Seattle, Denver art museum directors make Super Bowl wager, Associated Press, January 30, 2014, http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/01/30/seattle-denver-art-museum-directors-make-super-bowl-wager

Super Bowl art wager modified after B.C. band objects, Associated Press, January 30, 2014, http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/super-bowl-art-wager-modified-after-b-c-band-objects-1.2516973

Boehm, Mike, Denver, Seattle museums put artworks on the line in Super Bowl wager, LA Times, January 30, 2014, http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-super-bowl-art-20140130,0,7598712.story#axzz2sIBN0bGl

Kennicott, Philip, A Super Bowl Art Wager: Denver Wins, Washington Post, The Style Blog, January 31, 2014, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2014/01/31/a-super-bowl-art-wager-denver-wins/

Seattle Art Museum respectfully acknowledges that we are on Indigenous land, the traditional territories of the Coast Salish people. We honor our ongoing connection to these communities past, present, and future.

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