Mask

Unknown

ca. 1900 · Wood, pigment, and vegetal fiber · The American Wing

Worn during dance ceremonies, this Yup’ik mask depicts the artist’s vision of the universe. The whimsical imagery combines elements drawn from the Arctic realms of earth, sky, and water, such as the face with a black paw motif, the finely rendered fingers of a human hand grasping a fish, the head of a bird, and the seal. The bent willow bow that frames the central image once held feathers or other adornments.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1900

Medium

Wood, pigment, and vegetal fiber

Culture

Yup'ik, Native American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

The Charles and Valerie Diker Collection of Native American Art, Promised Gift of Charles and Valerie Diker