Native American, Pacific Northwest Coast, Alaska, Inupiaq/Inuit, ca. 1940s CE. Signed R.W. on verso. An intriguing spirit mask, hand-carved from porous whale bone, depicting an expressive visage with a broad bas relief nose flanked by open round eyes (comprised of grey shell pupils and white walrus ivory irises), a gently smiling open mouth with an incised mustache or ornament above the upper lip and two brown/grey shell circular ornaments on the chin below, a decorative band adorned by 5 circular inlays - three white walrus ivory alternating with 2 grey shell - above the browline, a fringe of straight bangs above that, and finally a fretted border along the perimeter of the mask. The verso is relatively flat with only a small suspension string adhered to a pair of drilled holes. Size: 5.9" W x 6.8" H (15 cm x 17.3 cm)

Pertaining to the walrus ivory inlays: These are pre-Act pieces of walrus ivory under the MMPA and cannot be sold internationally or to anyone residing in the states of California, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. We guarantee that the piece was made prior to 1972.

Provenance: ex-Komor Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired ca. 1965

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#156094

Light wear on surface commensurate with age. All inlays present. What may appear to be a loss on the back is actually the natural form of the bone. Initials "R.W." incised on verso.