Description
C357 Ceremonial Mask
Yup'ik Mask by Eskimo artist Frank Shavings. The ceremonial mask is 10” x 10”. ca 1950
Edward Curtis photo of Indigenous people from Nunivak Island from the Cup'it Eskimo tribe (called Yup'ik ) wearing a ceremonial mask (or winter ceremonial mask), which was carved by both men and women, was comprised of a concentric circle around the mask with projected feathers and carved fish or birds, and was traditionally destroyed after being worn. Only the most important—often those made and worn by the ritual specialist—might be kept and reused.
