Northwest Coast Indian Masks Photos

The Native Americans who inhabited the Pacific Coast from Alaska through British Columbia carved masks with faces of people & animals in the unique styles of these several tribes.

See also: Native American Arts, Western Art & Indian Art Museum Painting & Sculpture, Northwest Coast Native Art, Northwest Coast Totem Poles
Click photo to enlarge.
Nisga'a mask (c1850) at National Museum of American Indian. New York, NY

Woman giving birth wooden first nations mask (c1940) by Mungo Martin (Nakapankam) of Fort Rupert at Seattle Art Museum. Seattle, WA

Kwakwaka'wakw mask of two sea lions around ancestor face (1880-1920) at National Museum of American Indian. New York, NY

Gitxsan old man mask (1880-1910) at National Museum of American Indian. New York, NY

Tsimshian mask (19th C) from British Columbia at Fowler Museum. Los Angeles, CA

Nisga'a frontlet headdress with white owl (19th C) from British Columbia at Fowler Museum. Los Angeles, CA

Collection of Northwest Coast native wooden human face masks (1830-1979) at Seattle Art Museum. Seattle, WA

Kwakwaka'wakw potlatch figure (c1930) & welcome figure (19th C) at National Museum of American Indian. New York, NY

Kwakwaka'wakw northwest coast wooden whale mask (1900) at Denver Art Museum. Denver, CO

Kwakwaka'wakw four-faced mask (c1938) by George Walkus at Denver Art Museum. Denver, CO

Northwest Coast native wooden mask of Crooked Beak (c1940) by Willie Seaweed of Blunden Harbour at Seattle Art Museum. Seattle, WA

Bella Coola headdress bird of prey mask (late 19th C) from British Columbia, Canada, at New Orleans Museum of Art. New Orleans, LA

Bella Coola headdress bird of prey mask (late 19th C) from British Columbia, Canada, at New Orleans Museum of Art. New Orleans, LA

Nuxalk thunder figure mask (c1880) at National Museum of American Indian. New York, NY

Gitxsan eagle headdress (1870-1910) at National Museum of American Indian. New York, NY

Northwest Coast native wooden eagle war helmet (c1780) by Tlingit artist of Angoon at Seattle Art Museum. Seattle, WA

Northwest Coast native wooden Box of Daylight Raven hat (c1850) by Tlingit artist of Taku at Seattle Art Museum. Seattle, WA

Northwest coast native crest hat in raven form (1860-80) at National Museum of American Indian. New York, NY

Teikweidi brown bear clan hat (c1860) at National Museum of American Indian. New York, NY

Gitxsan ceremonial headdress in form of black bear (c1870-1900) at National Museum of American Indian. New York, NY

Northwest coast native crest hat in frog form (1850-80) at National Museum of American Indian. New York, NY

Nuxalk face headdress (c1860) at National Museum of American Indian. New York, NY

Heiltsuk frontlet with mask (c1880) at National Museum of American Indian. New York, NY

Northwest Coast native wooden feast dish of Crooked Beak (1994) by Calvin Hunt (Tlasutiwalis) of Fort Rupert at Seattle Art Museum. Seattle, WA

Northwest Coast native wooden Image of the Sun (c1880) by Nuxalk artist at Seattle Art Museum. Seattle, WA


All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.