John Livingston (adopted Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) 1951-2019)
Hamatsa Madzis (Whistles)
two whistles attached together with string, painted wood decorated with human faces, signed on bottom, "Livingston, John Livingston Jan /73". Of all the dances of the Kwakwaka’wakw, the Hamat´sa is considered to be the most important. After the mourning songs you will hear madzis (whistles) blown again and again. Once the whistles start, this indicates that the Hamat´sa ceremony has started. The whistle sounds are said to represent the sound of Baxwbakwalanuksiwe’ moving through the woods. He has so many mouths on his body that when he walks it sounds like the whistles that we hear.
Provenance: Nuytten Collection
Size: 8 ½ h x 5 w x 1 ½ d in
ZP20743
SOLD
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