Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number CAS 2015-0002-0004   CAS 2015-0002-0004; Carving (mask)
Category Carvings
Object Name Carving (mask)
Culture Inupiat
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. Alaska
County
Other Geographic Data
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1960s
Collection Name N/A
Materials Bone: whale vertebra; Tanned skin
Description Two dimensional, high relief whale bone carving in the form of a wall hanging mask, depicting a very round human face with narrow but prominent nose, high rounded cheekbones, and a very small mouth; Narrow slit eyes have been drilled out completely from front of carving to the reverse side; Several side-by-side holes have been similarly drilled all the way through to represent the mouth; Pair of side-by-side holes have been partially drilled into bottom of nose to represent the nostrils, and a final pair of holes has been drilled through the top of the mask to facilitate hanging it for display; Short loop of tanned skin has threaded through the later pair of holes.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 13.9, Depth = 7.9, Length = 15.4