Human Face Mask Inupiak
Pt. Hope - Pt. Barrow?, Circa 1830 - 1870 8 1/2"
H
Carved
of a burly piece of driftwood, this mask illustrates the adaption of available
resources to the necessary task at hand. Very naturalistically carved,
the human face here simply and accurately represents the subtle modeling
of Eskimo facial features. The teeth insert in the lips are possibly symbolic
of a specific spirit or other representation embodied in the mask which
would be known and recognized by the local audience. Specific occasions
such as whaling rituals and festivals of the dead called for the appearance
of masked images representing the spirits responsible for the protection
and movement of game animals.
Provanance : George Terasaki
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