Lot 126
John Elliott (Iroquois / Six Nations, b. 1952). False Face. Wooden mask, 2004. Signed with culture and year on interior. A haunting wooden vizard hand-carved by Iroquois artist John Elliott and featuring a mesmerizing pair of silver-hued aluminum eyes, starkly contrasted by the brilliant red pigment of the skin and dark mocha coloring of his horsehair coiffure. The evocative visage is hyperbolically aged with exaggerated folds of flesh and creases of wrinkles that envelop the ovoid eyes, huge nose, and grimacing mouth which reveals 2 rows of widely-spaced, tab-shaped teeth. Size: 6.4" W x 10.5" H (16.3 cm x 26.7 cm)
This mask was worn by members that were either initiated or those cured by a "secret" medicinal society that healed and maintained the community's well-being. Traditionally the mask maker walked through the forest until inspired by the ancient ancestor, Ethiso:da', and the mask is carved out from a living tree which imbues the wood with a life force. The mask's grotesque visage is from a myth - the Creator challenged Ethiso:da' (Hado'ih) to a mountain moving competition, but Ethiso:da' was hit in the face- his nose broken and distorted. The Creator appointed Ethiso:da' as a protector and healer to his people, but banished him to caves to only heal through dreams due to his disfigured face.
John Elliot is a member of the Mohawk Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy and belongs to the Turtle Clan. Self-taught, he started carving in 1967 at the age of 15. John is a member of the Medicine Mask Society and can carve any mask style in any size. His masks are in collections around the world.
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 are only eligible to ship within the United States.
Provenance: private Alamo, California, USA collection
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#180710
- Condition: Signed with culture and year on interior. Some small nicks and surface wear commensurate with age, and some remains of adhesive on top of proper right side of head. Otherwise, intact and excellent. Suspension hook on verso for display.
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