This Alaskan Eskimo made mask was a popular item with tourists from around the time of statehood (1959). Even though this is small (approximately 3x4 inches) there is a lot of work packed into it and the workmanship is truly remarkable. The face is made of a thin skin, nearly transparent, with the facial features having been worked when wet to create the nose, mouth, eyes. Then ink was used to accentuate the features. The face was stitched onto a strip of fur to make the ruff.

This is a nice vintage Alaskan piece from an era of fine Eskimo artisans.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON NORTHWEST NATIVE ARTS, please visit our blog to read the article 'Identifying Alaskan/Northwest Native Artwork' at this URL:

http://bigrivermercantile.blogspot.com/2013/09/identifying-alaskannorthwest-native.html