Rare 4'x4' Raven to Bear Transformation Mask, Calvin Hunt - SOLD

SOLD

• Nation: Kwakwaka' wakw art, Kwakiutl art, native artists Vancouver Island
• Artist: Hunt, Calvin (Chief)
• Type: Mask

sorry, this piece just sold... but please contact us if you are interested in another one like it

Triple opened Raven / Bear Transformation Mask by Chief Calvin Hunt from the Kwakiulth First Nation (please read his biography provided below - it's worth reading...!)

This piece is fully hand carved out of a big chunk of red cedar (see images). Just an incredible piece of art which is hard to find and quite rare. The Mask is rigged for wearing/dancing, decorated with horse tail, cedar rope, the painting is clean and very rich at the same time. This piece is HUGE. It's prepared for wall hanging. 

Measurements: 4' wide, 4' high when open, the closed mask is 3'4" long, 2'4" high

Legend: “One day Raven spotted Bear grubbing around a rock.  This went on for so long that Raven landed and asked Bear what he was doing.  Bear replied that he smelled something absolutely delicious, and it was coming from under this huge rock. So Bear and Raven worked together, tugging, pushing, and pulling the rock until it came free, revealing a dark hole in the ground. Bear was too big to climb down, so Raven volunteered to fly down the tunnel to look for the source of the mouth-watering smell.

Finally, Raven came upon a winding, underground river.  He followed the river until he came to the village of the Pale People.  They were suspicious of Raven.  However, Raven was a good talker and convinced them that he was not there to steal any of their secrets; he just wanted to taste their delicious smelling bar-b-que!  Raven tasted what they called “salmon” and thought to himself, “I must have this!”  While the Pale People weren’t watching, Raven stuffed salmon in his nostrils and ears and tucked some scales under his talons. 

Raven stole away from the Pale People, and returned to his world through the tunnel from which he came. Bear was very anxious, but Raven bade him to wait a bit longer. He took Bear to the nearest river and there he released the salmon into the water, giving salmon to the world of daylight.” 

sorry, this piece just sold... but please contact us if you are interested in another one like it

We guarantee the authenticity of every piece of art sold through our Gallery !!! We do not offer reproductions, imported copies, cheap mass-produced, machine made or so called native-inspired/native-style knock-off pieces.

Photos of This Piece

About This Artist

Calvin Hunt, (1956): Chief Tlasutiwalis, Kwaku'l, Fort Rupert and Hereditary Chief Nasnamus, Mowochaht, Friendly Cove is the youngest son of Kwagu’l Hereditary Chief Thomas Hunt, and Emma, the daughter of a great Mowochaht Chief and...Artist bio and other available works »