Vintage Pugwis (Sea Monster) Mask by George Hunt Jr., Kwakwaka'wakw
Regular price
$1,500.00
Sale
Vintage Pugwis (Sea Monster) Mask, c. 1970
by George Hunt Jr., Kwakwaka'wakw First Nation
red cedar, stain
11" high x 8.75" wide x 7.5" deep
Signed: Kwakiutl Puqwis Mask - Man From the Bottom of the Sea
Pugwis is a part of the Sea Monster ‘Namxiyalegiyu Dances During Tła’sala Ceremonies. The Chief of the Sea, Kumugwe, has many minions who carry out his bidding. Pugwis is the liason between the human world and the sea monster supernatural world, a spirit that takes the form of a human with a fish-like face, large teeth, and gills. This is a very early mask by George Hunt Jr. and is in the style of the early masks by his elders George Hunt Sr. and Henry Hunt.
George Hunt Jr. is a Northwest Coast Kwakwaka’wakw Indian, born April 30, 1958 in Campbell River, British Columbia. His Kwakwaka’wakw name “Nas-u-niz” means Light Beyond the World, and he carries the traditional chief’s name Nagedzi-Yathlawalth, passed down from his grandfather Chief Tommy Hunt, to his father, Chief George Hunt Sr., and now to him. Hunt’s family lineage descends from the village of Fort Rupert on Vancouver Island. The family is rich in native Indian heritage including master carver Mungo Martin (step great grandfather), Henry Hunt (grand uncle) and Tony Hunt (uncle).
George began carving at the age of fourteen under the tutelage of his father, Chief George Hunt Sr., (Yalawa-Negegdz). After learning the basics of knife techniques, and some of the forms that make up Kwakwaka’wakw Art, George began an apprenticeship with his maternal grandfather, Sam Henderson.
George Hunt Jr. was initiated into the Hamatsa Society and began learning the inherited dance steps at age sixteen under his paternal grandfather, Chief Thomas Hunt.
This accomplished dancer works in acrylic on paper and canvas, limited edition serigraphs, cedar carvings, and painted drums fastened with cedar carved figures.
George’s original Kwakwaka’wakw works of art including totem poles, masks, silkscreen prints, and sculptural drums have been purchased for both public and private collections including The British Museum, The Smithsonian’s Museum of the American Indian, The Burke Museum, Pendleton Woolen Mills, and The Seattle Art Museum.
A project George is particularly proud of is being selected as one of four original artists who created Pendleton Blankets for the American Indian College Fund’s Hope Project. George donated a special drawing based on a traditional Chilkat Blanket design in honor of his great-great-great grandmother, Tlingit noblewoman and renowned Chilkat Blanekt weaver, Mary Ebbets Hunt (Anishlaga).