Sanford Williams is a Nuu-chah-nulth carver best known for his highly complex masks. Formally trained at the Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Indian Art (‘Ksan) in the 1980s, Williams’ somewhat angular formline and carving reflect the lasting influence of the ‘Ksan style on his work. As he has done here, Williams incorporates compound imagery in relief-carved formline to create multiple spirit faces within his masks, reminiscent of Yup’ik masks from Alaska and the transformational masks of the late Ron Telek (Nisga’a, 1962–2017).

This mask features a Wolf design that Williams has often returned to. The mask is composed of a Wolf head in profile, with the snout, nostril, and mouth making up the proper right cheek of the main mask image. There is another human face in place of the proper left eye of the mask, and a small human figure peering out from the u-form shape of the Wolf’s ear. The mask is topped with white horsehair, and the eyes are inlaid with operculum.