Tsimshian Polychromed Wood Mask

of unusally deep and hollowed form, possibly depicting a bird, the humanized face with articulated lower jar, and eyes beneath sharply arching brows, painted overall in shimmering black graphite pigment, and vermillion red details on the lips, nostrils, and as a series of dashes, probably representing feathers, on the perphery, attached with cedar bundles across the forehead; remnants of a hide strap on the back.

Collected by Garnet West in 1952 from Rev. Shearman Kitkatla Reserve, Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Sold Skinner’s Boston, September 2005, lot 223
Private Collection, New York
Acquired by the present owner from the above

For related examples with similar painted decoration see Sotheby's New York, June 2004, lot 21; and Sotheby's New York, October 2006, lot 17.