Description:

Native American, Pacific Northwest Coast, Haida people, ca. 1991 CE. A ferocious and vibrant wooden dog fish or shark mask made in a traditional style by a contemporary Native American artist. The mask has a large forehead with two square turquoise colored stones set on the top. The shark/human face features a scary visage of flared nostrils and jagged teeth. The details are brightly painted in white, red, blue, and black. The stripes to the sides of the lips represent gills. There is no labret or lip ornament, which indicates this is a male mask. The mask symbolizes people believed to have been carried off by the dog fish shark and then turned into sharks. The children of these humans and sharks are said to still swim in the ocean today. The verso is signed by the artist and dated: "JRIN 7-91." This mask might make you think twice before swimming in the ocean. Size: 6.5" W x 12.25" H (16.5 cm x 31.1 cm); 14.75" H (37.5 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA Collection; ex-Watts collection, Chicago, Illinois, USA

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#162782

  • Condition: Artist signature on verso with date. Typed description and label attached to verso. Minor nicks and small stains. Intended as a decorative piece and not for ceremony.

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April 1, 2021 10:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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