Large Kwakwaka'wakw Huk-huk Raven Mask by Simon Dick

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Connoisseur's Delight Fine Art & Antiquities

By Artemis Gallery

Jun 27, 2024

Set Reminder 2024-06-27 11:00:00 2024-06-27 11:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Connoisseur's Delight Fine Art & Antiquities https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/connoisseurs-delight-fine-art-antiquities-16181
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• Lot Description
  **This item is heavy/oversized and will require 3rd party shipping. Please inquire about shipping cost prior to bidding.**
  
  Simon Dick "Tanis" (First Nations Canadian, Kwakwaka'wakw, b. 1951). "Hoh Hok," polychrome wood, copper, & bark, ca. 2001. A hand carved cedar wood raven head mask of massive proportions known as a hoh-hok (sometimes spelled huk-huk) with cedar bark tassels and turkey feathers atop the head. The surface is carved and painted in the classic formline style using green, red, white, and a shimmering metallic blue, and a copper panel is inlaid around the white shell eye. The beak is articulated via a string and hook on the interior, making a clacking noise that imitates the sound these birds make. The interior of the head opening is signed in pencil "Tanis / Simon Dick / Kwakwaka'wakw / Hoh Hok 2001." Size with tassels: 52" L x 12.25" W x 30" H (132.1 cm x 31.1 cm x 76.2 cm)
  
  Members of the Hamatsa Dance Society dance with three masks during the initiation ceremony of new members. The ceremony dramatizes the struggle of good and evil forces for the young initiate's soul. The giant Hamatsa hoh-hok raven are the earthly representatives of Baxwbakwalanuxwsiwe', the colossal cannibal spirit in the sky world. The enormous birds try to lure the young person into the dark realm, while the family and tribe work tirelessly to liberate the forces of evil from the young person's soul. When the initiation ceremony concludes (which can take several days), the forces of good, with any luck, have prevailed and the young initiate is ready to be a productive, positive contributing member to the Hamatsa society and the tribe.
  
  Simon Dick was born in an isolated coastal village in British Columbia. During his early childhood years, he lived the traditional lifestyle of his Kwicksutaineuk and Nax wax daxw ancestors, learning teachings of his elders in the Kwakwaka'wakw dialect, in which he is fluent. He was initiated into the Hamatsa secret society when he became an adolescent. In 1964 his family moved to Alert Bay on the coast of Vancouver Island when Dick was in his teens. There he learned from master carvers, in particular apprenticing to Chief Tony Hunt Sr. - a renowned Kwakwak'wakw artist - at the Arts of the Raven gallery in Victoria British Columbia for four years. Dick is a world-renowned master carver and works in other media as well including textiles and silver. Simon's life work and art has always been focused on the preservation of his culture. According to the Inuit Gallery of Vancouver: "My interest in traditional carving goes way back. As a child our house was less than 100 feet from a 40-foot pole carved for the memory of King George VI. The Thunderbird on the top was carved by Willie Seaweed of Blunden Harbour. I would stare at this beautiful monument and dream that someday I may acquire the gift to carve like my ancestors. I would visit carvers in their homes and ask questions about certain characters. I would visit Dick Hawkins, Art Lagis, Charlie Willie, Jack James...they were all such wonderful teachers. In later years, moving to Alert Bay, I witnessed the construction of a traditional ceremonial house. I was greatly influenced by the guidance of Chief James Sewid, Henry Speck, James Dick, Charlie George and Blackie Dick, and so many more. In my early twenties, I apprenticed under Tony Hunt for four years in Victoria. I also studied under Sam Henderson of Campbell River. Many of my mentors have gone before me, and now it is my turn to continue on my journey, to carve, sing and dance."
  
  Please note that this item is heavy/oversized. Please inquire about shipping prior to bidding.
  
  Provenance: private Litchfield, Ohio, USA collection
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #187102

  Condition

  Chips and nicks to high pointed areas, such as horns and tip of beak. Active shedding to cedar bark tassels. Beak articulates. Overall great condition and signed on the interior.
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