**Originally Listed At $400**

Ben Della (Makah / Coast Salish, b. 1948). "Wild Woman of the Forest" painted wood and rabbit fur mask, 1999. Signed with culture, title, and date on verso. An evocative mask of the Wild Woman of the Forest, also known as Dzunukwa (or Dzonokwa), hand-carved from cedar wood by Makah artist Ben Della, adorned with black and green paints, a rabbit fur coiffure, and a black feather. Elaborate geometric designs adorn her visage, giving the vizard a haunting presence. Size (without fur): 5" W x 8" H (12.7 cm x 20.3 cm); with fur: 11.5" W x 11.3" H (29.2 cm x 28.7 cm)

Dzunukwa is a mythical female being said to cause nightmares and carry children away to her home in the forest to eat them. Like beasts such as Bigfoot or the Sasquatch, she is believed to be an anthropomorphic giant with a huge body and head, boney, black face, bushy unkempt hair, and pursed lips. Her prominent red lips, as seen in this example, are emphasized to indicate her blood thirstiness and her cry “Hu! Hu!” During the winter ceremonies, masked dancers represent a number of spiritual beings, including Dzunukwa, who is portrayed as shaggy, lumbering, sleepy, and vain. She always carries a basket to collect children and must be assisted by a rope that leads from the door to her seat when she enters the longhouse for the winter ceremony, due to her clumsiness. Though frightening, it is important to note that she is capable of providing wealth and power. If a chief wants his audience to respect and fear him, as they fear Dzunukwa, he wears her mask while speaking to the people. It is believed that those who are able to outsmart Dzunukwa and reach her house, will leave with treasures like dried meats, animal skins, dance privileges and the "water of life," which is capable of reviving the dead.

Native American Makah artist Ben Della creates hand-carved artworks in the Coast Salish tradition. He is based in Neah Bay, on the Olympic Peninsula in Northwestern Washington.

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 are only eligible to ship within the United States.

Provenance: private Don Phelps collection, owner Todos Santos Trading Post, Alamo, California, USA, before 2000

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.

#180353

Signed with culture, title, and date on verso. Some minor loss to black feather, and a few minor nicks to wood, but otherwise intact and excellent. Suspension wire on verso for display.