The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture has done some research on the Seattle Seahawks’ beloved and Native-inspired Seahawk logo , and you don’t have to be an expert to conclude they’ve found the exact piece it was modeled on.
The story, “Searching for what inspired the Seattle Seahawks logo,” was posted to the museum’s blog this week. It was known that the NFL designers who came up with the image had consulted books about Northwest Coast art, but Curator Emeritus of the Burke Museum, Bill Holm, said he was not personally consulted by the designers. Nonetheless, he had a book in his possession, Art of the Northwest Coast Indians by Robert Bruce Inverarity, published in 1950, that contained photos of the piece that must have served as the model. Scans from the book appear on the Burke Blog, and the profile of the mask, a Kwakwaka’wakw representation of an eagle, is strikingly similar:
Kwakwaka’wakw transformation mask in its closed form Published in Robert Bruce Inverarity’s book, Art of the Northwest Coast Indians, 1950. Source: burkemuseum.blogspot.com
Image source: burkemuseum.blogspot.com
Of interest to art lovers — though not, perhaps, to football fans: The mask is a “transformation mask,” which means its eagle face opens up to reveal a human face. Here is the same piece, opened:
Kwakwaka’wakw transformation mask in its opened form Published in Robert Bruce Inverarity’s book, Art of the Northwest Coast Indians, 1950. Source: burkemuseum.blogspot.com
Visit Burke Blog for a more detailed account.
This story was originally published on January 30, 2017
Sculptor of the Seahawks 12th Man...Done in wood by a American Indian Artist.
Enjoy.
Wow!
This old shop teacher was looking for the seams in the mask. Hard to see. That speaks well of the artists skills in the woodshop!
Thanks Kavika.
If you figure in the time frame that these masks were made, there were no power tools, it was all hand done.
I espescially like the 12th man done by the American Indian artist.
All and all wonderful example of traditional art.
That was amazing! I could barely get my students to use a hand tool. More power!
LOL, take away the batteries and they are lost...
That's so true! They don't even like corded tools.
Hey and they actually play pretty good football too.
They looked bad yesterday. No offensive line and Russell is going to get hurt if Seattle doesn't do something to get a offensive line.
Very cool.
It is very cool, thanks for stopping by Transyferous Rex.
Great article, Kavika, and a great find. Thank you for sharing the information with us. A great artisan. The precision of the artists workmanship is truly awesome. (smile)
Dear Friend Kavika: Great article.
Super graphics.
Thanks.
E.