Native American, Pacific Northwest Coast, Tlingit, ca. 1970s, carved by artist Richard LaValle (Portland, Oregon). A beautiful portrait mask, hand-carved from hard wood, depicting an expressive visage. The face is defined by low contoured cheek bones, almond-shaped eyes with drilled pupils, a broad nose with delineated nostrils, ovoid ears, and full lips surrounded by a mustache and goatee. Blue painted areas decorate the face around the eyes, nose, and forehead, with black-painted eye brows and facial hair, and red pigment adorning the mouth, ears, and nose. Tufts of coarse horse hair comprise the flowing coiffure, and the temples are drilled for suspension. Signed on the verso of the forehead with "LAVALLE." Custom museum-quality display stand included. Size: 7.5" W x 9.375" H (19 cm x 23.8 cm); 12.75" H (32.4 cm) on included custom stand.
Rich LaValle has been a Tlingit wood carver since 2000, though he was not born into the Tlingit culture. He began weaving Pacific Northwest style textiles before beginning his craft as a wood-turner upon moving with his wife to Portland, Oregon, and was approached directly by members of the Tlingit tribe to carve Tlingit masks. Rich and his wife were then formally adopted into the Tlingit tribe in the year 2000. His Tlingit name is "Kut Daa Jaa Gu," and his wife's Tlingit name is "Shawat Googh." Rich is known throughout the Pacific Northwest Coast for his fine craftsmanship of traditional Tlingit face masks, rattles, hat fronts, and textiles.
Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection
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#133643
Condition
Surface wear and light abrasions commensurate with age, minor fading to pigmentation, and some coarseness to hair, otherwise intact and excellent. Light earthen deposits throughout. Signature "LAVALLE" carved on verso behind forehead. Old inventory label on verso.