Physical object: Carved and painted ceremonial mask, Iñupiat (Native Alaskan Tribe)
Native Alaskan ceremonial mask of wood, carved and painted in the image of a human face with minimal definition of features such as the eyebrows, nose, mouth and eyes. The overall simplicity of the face is both elegant and masterful in this modestly sized wooden mask. Narrow, elongated openings defi...
Other Authors: | |
---|---|
Format: | Other/Unknown Material |
Language: | unknown |
Published: |
1867
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/11134/60002:4076 |
id |
ftconnecticstlib:oai:oai:collections.ctdigitalarchive.org:60002_4076 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftconnecticstlib:oai:oai:collections.ctdigitalarchive.org:60002_4076 2023-05-15T16:06:48+02:00 Physical object: Carved and painted ceremonial mask, Iñupiat (Native Alaskan Tribe) Unknown creator, Northern Circumpolar (Creator) 1867 http://hdl.handle.net/11134/60002:4076 unknown 60002:4076 http://hdl.handle.net/11134/60002:4076 This item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. Images and data from The Barnum Museum are intended for public access and educational use only. This material is owned, held, or licensed by The Barnum Museum and is being provided solely for the purpose of teaching or individual research. All other use, including commercial reuse, mounting on other systems, or other forms of redistribution requires permission of the appropriate department of The Barnum Museum; fees may be applicable. Inuit--Inuit Masks--Alaska Natives PhysicalObject ethnographic object 1867 ftconnecticstlib 2020-02-02T09:34:38Z Native Alaskan ceremonial mask of wood, carved and painted in the image of a human face with minimal definition of features such as the eyebrows, nose, mouth and eyes. The overall simplicity of the face is both elegant and masterful in this modestly sized wooden mask. Narrow, elongated openings define the eyes, an oblong opening defines the mouth, and the long, slender nose has two nostril openings. The surface has been painted with what may have been an ivory color pigment (now sparse and greyed) and features a black band across the upper forehead, likely representing hair. Small holes on either side of the mask, just below the level of the eyes, would have been used for fastening ribbons or sinew of some type; there is also one off-center hole in the chin area, pupose unknown. The back view shows the unpainted wood. The mask is listed in museum records from the 1890s as an "Eskimo Mask. King Island and wooden false face - King Island." Current research suggests this was likely made by the Iñupiat, a native Alaskan tribe. King Island, called Ugiuvak in Iñupiat, was the home of an Iñupiat tribe. The Iñupiat are a native Alaskan people, whose traditional territory goes from the Norton Sound to the Bearing Sea. At present, no Iñupiat live on King Island, although many homes remain there. They now live in Nome, Alaska, and have maintained their cultural identity there. Current research into this mask indicates two possible uses: the first, that it is a cultural artifact and was used in ceremonies in the Iñupiat culture; the second, that it was intended for sale to visiting tourists. The obvious wear on the piece suggests it might be an authentic cultural artifact, however that is not a certain method to determine its original purpose. The fine calibre of the piece also suggests it is above "tourist trade" quality. Research is ongoing. There is debate about the appropriate term that should be used for cultures native to the northern circumpolar region. Eskimo is considered a pejorative term in Canada and Greenland, ... Other/Unknown Material eskimo* Greenland inuit Nome Alaska Connecticut Digital Archive Canada Greenland King Island ENVELOPE(-58.100,-58.100,-62.000,-62.000) Norton Sound ENVELOPE(69.507,69.507,-49.202,-49.202) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Connecticut Digital Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftconnecticstlib |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Inuit--Inuit Masks--Alaska Natives |
spellingShingle |
Inuit--Inuit Masks--Alaska Natives Physical object: Carved and painted ceremonial mask, Iñupiat (Native Alaskan Tribe) |
topic_facet |
Inuit--Inuit Masks--Alaska Natives |
description |
Native Alaskan ceremonial mask of wood, carved and painted in the image of a human face with minimal definition of features such as the eyebrows, nose, mouth and eyes. The overall simplicity of the face is both elegant and masterful in this modestly sized wooden mask. Narrow, elongated openings define the eyes, an oblong opening defines the mouth, and the long, slender nose has two nostril openings. The surface has been painted with what may have been an ivory color pigment (now sparse and greyed) and features a black band across the upper forehead, likely representing hair. Small holes on either side of the mask, just below the level of the eyes, would have been used for fastening ribbons or sinew of some type; there is also one off-center hole in the chin area, pupose unknown. The back view shows the unpainted wood. The mask is listed in museum records from the 1890s as an "Eskimo Mask. King Island and wooden false face - King Island." Current research suggests this was likely made by the Iñupiat, a native Alaskan tribe. King Island, called Ugiuvak in Iñupiat, was the home of an Iñupiat tribe. The Iñupiat are a native Alaskan people, whose traditional territory goes from the Norton Sound to the Bearing Sea. At present, no Iñupiat live on King Island, although many homes remain there. They now live in Nome, Alaska, and have maintained their cultural identity there. Current research into this mask indicates two possible uses: the first, that it is a cultural artifact and was used in ceremonies in the Iñupiat culture; the second, that it was intended for sale to visiting tourists. The obvious wear on the piece suggests it might be an authentic cultural artifact, however that is not a certain method to determine its original purpose. The fine calibre of the piece also suggests it is above "tourist trade" quality. Research is ongoing. There is debate about the appropriate term that should be used for cultures native to the northern circumpolar region. Eskimo is considered a pejorative term in Canada and Greenland, ... |
author2 |
Unknown creator, Northern Circumpolar (Creator) |
format |
Other/Unknown Material |
title |
Physical object: Carved and painted ceremonial mask, Iñupiat (Native Alaskan Tribe) |
title_short |
Physical object: Carved and painted ceremonial mask, Iñupiat (Native Alaskan Tribe) |
title_full |
Physical object: Carved and painted ceremonial mask, Iñupiat (Native Alaskan Tribe) |
title_fullStr |
Physical object: Carved and painted ceremonial mask, Iñupiat (Native Alaskan Tribe) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Physical object: Carved and painted ceremonial mask, Iñupiat (Native Alaskan Tribe) |
title_sort |
physical object: carved and painted ceremonial mask, iñupiat (native alaskan tribe) |
publishDate |
1867 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/60002:4076 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-58.100,-58.100,-62.000,-62.000) ENVELOPE(69.507,69.507,-49.202,-49.202) |
geographic |
Canada Greenland King Island Norton Sound |
geographic_facet |
Canada Greenland King Island Norton Sound |
genre |
eskimo* Greenland inuit Nome Alaska |
genre_facet |
eskimo* Greenland inuit Nome Alaska |
op_relation |
60002:4076 http://hdl.handle.net/11134/60002:4076 |
op_rights |
This item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. Images and data from The Barnum Museum are intended for public access and educational use only. This material is owned, held, or licensed by The Barnum Museum and is being provided solely for the purpose of teaching or individual research. All other use, including commercial reuse, mounting on other systems, or other forms of redistribution requires permission of the appropriate department of The Barnum Museum; fees may be applicable. |
_version_ |
1766402824897298432 |