Carved Wooden Mask

Item number E21572-0 from the National Museum of Natural History.

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Notes

FROM CARD: "WOMAN'S FACE; PAINTED; LIP PLUG [i.e. labret, and nose ring]. LOANED TO BUENOS AIRES, 1954 - RETURNED 1955. LOANED TO THE S.I. CENTENNIAL COMM. 7-9-75. LOAN RETURNED MAR 22 1990." FROM 19TH OR EARLY 20TH CENTURY EXHIBIT LABEL WITH CARD: "CEREMONIAL MASK.---MADE OF WOOD, ORNAMENTED WITH WHITE, RED, AND BLUE PAINT. A BRASS RING PIERCES THE SEPTUM OF THE NOSE. LENGTH, 9 INCHES; WIDTH, 6 1/4 INCHES. TLINGIT INDIANS (KOLUSCHAN STOCK), ALASKA. 21,572." Mask was originally catalogued as "Koloshian", but identification was later changed to Haida at an unknown time by an unknown person.Mask was originally catalogued as "Koloshian", but identification was later changed to Haida at an unknown time by an unknown person. “Carved wooden masks. These of women represent the face of an Alaska married woman. The lower lip pierced with large piece of ivory. The married women are recognized by this feature (and ring in nose.)” And, mask “is a facsimile of the face of the ordinary Alaska Indian woman (the lower lip pierced) all married woman observe this custom but a shirt silver needle or pin would better represent prevailing custom, excepting in women somewhat advanced in years.” per White's original catalog in the NAA.