Mask

Item number Na1124 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Oval, roughly carved face mask with green-brown stain and patchy grey pigment overall. Seal head appendage at top. Dark brown seal has incised eye slits and wide mouth slit. Notches indicate nostrils. Forehead of mask is higher than plane of face. Long, narrow, nose is nailed on with three metal nails. Nose is stained dark brown with red under stain and at bottom, scraped to bare wood at tip. Almond shaped eye holes below sloped lids. Two small holes below nose and downturned mouth hole with black over red lips. A hole on each side has a two strand twine cord tied between. Back is very uneven. Black #12 above #311 on side and faded '26920-2' in white.

History Of Use

Traditional Alaskan mask carving reached a peak in the 18th and 19th centuries. Single human or animal face masks are common to northern Alaska, and the line between secular and religious masks is difficult to draw, although secular masks are generally plainer. Male dancers wore masks in winter ceremonies.