Down from the Shimmering Sky : Masks of the Northwest Coast

This richly illustrated book was made to accompany an exhibition of historic and contemporary wooden masks from ten First Nations regions of the Pacific Northwest Coast (masks to be sold to Europeans and Americans, as well as those used for ceremonial use). Chief Joseph describes the traditional uses of carved masks, while Macnair draws attention to the spiritual characteristics of masks based on human faces, animals and creatures representing the four dimensions of the cosmos (Sky, Mortal, Undersea and Spirit World). Includes a map indicating the territories of Northwest Coast First Nations. List of works. Bibliography 2 p. Circa 27 bibl. ref