Native American, Pacific Northwest Coast, Alaska, Inupiaq/Inuit, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. An intriguing spirit mask, hand-carved from porous whale bone, depicting an expressive visage with arched brows and downturned mouth. A pair of canine teeth from a coyote or other predator are set into the chin like tusks, and white shells are set in the eyes as pupils. Whale bone sculpture requires the use of older bone that has dried and ossified - new bone will splinter and be too oily to carve- hence the wonderfully aged and weathered appearance! Size: 7" L x 6" W (17.8 cm x 15.2 cm)

Provenance: ex-private Bishop Family Trust collection, the Trust of the late Bill Bishop, a noted antiquarian with shops in Scottsdale, Arizona and Allenspark, Colorado, USA, acquired before 2010

Please note this item falls under the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act and is not eligible for international shipping. Native American, Alaska Native, & Native Hawaiian objects can only be shipped within the United States.

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#172946

Age-commensurate surface wear, minor nicks to peripheries. Stable fissure to one tooth. Normal bone ossification as shown, but overall excellent condition.