Child sized Caribou face mask With Fur Trim --Made by Charlene Killbear of Barrow Alaska--Date of manufacture unknown--
These are one of a kind hand made by Alaskan native Inupiat or Athabaskan Crafts people. The skin is usually from a bull Caribou and the piece of hide must be cleaned from all fat and excess material as well as hair from the outside. It is then wetted and stretched on a hand carved form or frame and dried to take the shape of the face. Every individual craftsperson has their own hand made set of facial forms. The fur trim is then hand stitched to the face and hair from a different animal is also stitched to the face and the eye accents are applied--The makers signature is found on the interior apron of the hide. I took closeups of the details and hand stitching. If you look closely you can see the tool marks from the face form.
Face is 4" X 3 1/2" and with the fur ruff it is 7" X 6"
I ship these well packed and protecte4d in bubble wrap and cardboard.
I will combine shipping.