The sea wolf, appearing in the legends of North America’s Northwest Coast, is known as wasgo by the Haida people or gonakadet by others. In one story a man slays the monster and transforms into it by wearing its skin, saving his village from famine using its powers. This mask was made by an artist of the Ts’mysen (a broad term for nations also known as the Tsimshian) or a neighbouring people such as the Haida or Tlingit. Such masks were used in performances for potlatches – important social, political and spiritual events.

Porta’s physiognomic theory was based on the idea that resemblances between humans and animals signified resemblances in character. For example, someone with a lion-like face would be brave like a lion. This theory may seem absurd, but a 2011 psychology study found that people are indeed more likely to judge people with lion- or dog- like faces as having the personality traits associated with those animals (this does not mean these inferences are accurate).

Kōlam dance masks: Koti Kolama and Dala Garā

Sri Lanka, 19^th – 20^th century

Kōlam dance is practised by Sinhalese people. Like many performance arts, performers take on the role of animals and characters with animal parts. In Kōlam stories, Koti Kolama, the leopard, is a predatory character who attacks other animals. Dala Garā is a supernatural being with a crown of cobras and tusks (missing from the mask displayed here). He consumes evil and pollution, appearing at the end of performances which have a spiritual aspect.

Depicting people as animals in cartoons is a common way to make fun of them. Multiple caricatures from this period depict the politician Sir Francis Burdett as a half-man, half-goose. This scene is based upon an actual duel fought between Burdett and fellow politician James Paull (a tailor’s son, hence the oversized scissors) following a misunderstanding.

The British government in 1783 was formed around an alliance between Lord North (1732-1792) and Charles James Fox (1749-1806). Caricatures of Fox played on his name by giving him a fox’s head. In Bonus Melior Optimus (good, better, best) Fox and North share a bowl of soup, while the Devil stokes the fire to keep the pot hot. It’s implied that even the devil is preferable to this unnatural partnership of man and beast.

Later caricatures of Fox exaggerated his round figure and unshaven face; his hairiness was so well known that he was nicknamed ‘the Eyebrow’.