Description:

**First Time At Auction**

Native American, Pacific Northwest Coast United States, Alaska, Inupiaq/Inuit people, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A spirit mask carved from porous whale bone and painted with orange and black pigments around the mouth and top of the head. Spirit masks bridge the worlds of the living and spirits and the moon - the face is modeled after the moon which is also where Inupiaq believed whales originated. Whale bone sculpture requires the use of older bone that has dried and ossified - new bone will splinter and be too oily to carve- hence the wonderfully aged and weathered appearance. Size: 9" L x 7.5" W (22.9 cm x 19 cm)

Please note this item falls under the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act and is not eligible for international shipping. Native American, Alaska Native, & Native Hawaiian objects can only be shipped within the United States.

Provenance: private Superior, Colorado, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

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#178027

  • Condition: Chips and loss to nose as shown. Fading to painted pigments. Otherwise intact and very good.

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April 6, 2023 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
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$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000