Northwest Coast Native Art

$2830.00

Item GC1007

27 x 9 1/2 x 11 1/2

3 lbs. 2 oz.

Extra packaging required. A surcharge of 5.00 will be added to order.

Bear in Human Form

Hand carved and hand painted cedar mask trimmed with black fur.

In Makah this is called, “Nanni”, this mask can be used by a chief’s family to display their wealth. An ancient belief is, “At one time all creatures were human.” This mask reflects that belief. Also, the “Wild Man of the Woods” is associated with the “Bear”. How? Not sure, it’s just something Greg was told.

Greg Colfax

Greg Colfax's style of sculpture and two-dimensional design extends the concept of traditional Neah Bay and Ozette styles of Makah art, while maintaining a very strong connection to the most ancient visual and representational aspects of these traditions. An articulate speaker and writer as well as artist, Colfax has taught in the Native American studies programs of the Evergreen State College at Olympia, Washington.

More Related Items

Bear

Bear is one of the most prevalent figures in crest and shamanic art, as well as in myths. It is considered to be a close relation of human kind, perhaps because of physical characteristics such as size, appearance, and expression, and behaviors such as standing on two hind legs, gathering plants and berries, fishing and nurturing young. As a close relation, the bear is a link between the human and non-human animal realms, as well as between the secular natural ream and the divine or supernatural. Because of their strength and fierceness, Bears are frequently the guardians, protectors and helping spirits of the Warriors. Bears were held in great respect by the Coastal Indians because of their humanlike qualities. The bear motif is often found carved and painted on totem poles and used in many other art works. Because of its power and human-like qualities, the bear was referred to as "Elder Kinsman". When killed, it was taken to the chief's house, sprinkled with eagle down as a symbol of welcome, friendship and generally treated as a high-ranking guest. Prayers and dances were made to the soul of the bear so that harm would not later befall the hunters.

Understanding Northwest Coast Art - Cheryl Shearar