Native American, Northwestern Coast United States / Canada, British Columbia, Salish people, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. This is a large hand-carved red cedar wall panel modeled using elements of traditional Salish style masks, featuring a dramatic visage! The facial features are carved in high relief and amplify an expression that may be supposed to frighten the viewer. The large eyes and open mouth with its protruding tongue are all emphasized and painted in bright hues of blue, red, pink, white, and black. The surfaces surrounding these areas are left unpainted with the natural graining adding nice striations to the lustrous wood. The panel has a flat verso with nails and a wire for suspension. Masks like this example were carved during one's youth and held or worn during an annual "happy dance" to symbolize how one can never grow old as long as they can dance and sing. Size: 17" L x 10" W (43.2 cm x 25.4 cm)
Provenance: private Alamo collection, Alamo, California, USA, before 2000
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#167285
Condition
Faint pencil writing on verso is illegible. Modern wire and nails added for suspension. Nice signs of age to wood. Minor discoloration to lighter painted areas. Scuffs and chips to high pointed areas and sides and stable pressure fissures, but intact with nice patina.