Traditional Paints

Masks with Traditional Paint or Colouring

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Chief's Dzunuk´wa mask and copper breaker, mask is deeply carved, dark with red patches, light hair trim. Colour photograph detail view showing bridge of nose from Dzunuḱwa Mask

Dzunuk´wa Mask

  • Graphite is used to colour this mask black.
  • Graphite is a form of carbon.
  • It is the same thing that is in your pencils.
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Mystical raven mask with long hinged beak, black, white and red painted markings with braided cedar back, top and below. Colour photograph detail of eye from Gwaxgwakalanuksiwe' Raven-at-the-North-End-of-the-World Mask

Hamsamł - Raven mask with cedar bark

White paint on this mask was made from a certain type of clam shell. It was created by burning the shells, scraping off the char then crushing the inner layer into a powder that was mixed with fish eggs and spit.

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Bakwas mask, beak-like blue hooked nose, perforated brass disk for eyes surrounded by dark green patches, red, white and black facial markings, head covering of feathers mixed with hair, brightly coloured ribbons and cloth, sharp pointed ears. Colour photograph detail view of eye from Bakwas with Snakes mask

Bak´was Mask

  • Mica is a mineral that forms shiny crystals.
  • You can see small flakes of mica in the green paint around the eye of this Bak´was.
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Lesson 9