Native American, Northern United States / Canada, Inupiaq or Yupik people, ca. mid-20th to 21st century CE. A remarkable shamanic dance mask with a wolf's head carved from wood with extending feathers and wooden paws and fish encircling the peripheries. The central panel is made from a light cedar in the form of an elongated wolf snout, perked ears, incised nostrils, mouth, and eyes with painted details. A pair of pliable wood rings encircle the visage- supported by 4 rods projecting from the wolf's head. The wooden appendages, representing forelimbs and clawed paws are attached with goose feather quills, as are the 2 wooden fish. These masks were traditionally made under the direction of shamans and had different functions- some might be intended to wear as masks during ceremonies and others may be made to hang in the home for healing or to bring fortune during hunts. Size: 19" L x 4.5" W (48.3 cm x 11.4 cm)

Provenance: private San Francisco, California, USA collection, acquired 1970s to 2000s

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#170439

Chips and loss to ears. Glue adhesive visible on feather and wood attachments. Fraying being and losses to feathers. Suspension hooks and wire on verso.