Native American, Pacific Northwest Coast, United States or Canada, Tlingit / Haida, ca. early 20th century CE. This is a beautiful hand-carved decorative cedar mask with nacre (mother of pearl) inlays. The striking visage displays large, slightly recessed eyes, nacre pupils inlaid beneath thickly painted brows, a protruding nose, and full upper lip, all over a huge labret. His thick lower lip exaggeratedly extends outwards and is also adorned with an iridescent abalone shell inlay along the top as a labret. Tlingit masks were often worn by shamans during spiritual ceremonies and dances, and this mask is outfitted with a wire for suspension as a display piece. Size: 11" L x 7" W (27.9 cm x 17.8 cm)
Provenance: private Alamo collection, Alamo, California, USA, before 2000
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#167662
Condition
Chips to nacre labret. Stable pressure fissures to brow, surface abrasions, and chips to high pointed areas. Nice patina to wood. Modern wire added to verso for suspension.