20th C. Tlingit Wood & Abalone Mask by Rich LaValle
Native American, Pacific Northwest Coast, Tlingit, ca. late 20th to 21st century CE. A stunning wooden mask expertly hand-carved and painted by the Tlingit artist Rich LaValle. Embellished with painted red and black pigments, this striking visage displays a naturalistic old man's face, saggy, wrinkled skin, and deep brows. The slightly open mouth displays his teeth, and his thick, exaggeratedly protruding lower lip is adorned with an iridescent abalone shell inlay along its top. His protruding ears are pierced and strung with dangling copper sheets, cut and painted as stylized bears. Lengthy strands of horsehair flow from the top of the mask and are inserted via petite, annular drill holes along the top periphery of the forehead. Drilled openings just above the eyes and through the nostrils and mouth allow the mask wearer to see through. Size: 11.25" L x 8.75" W (28.6 cm x 22.2 cm)
Rich LaValle has been a Tlingit wood carver since 2000, though he was not born into the Tlingit culture. He began weaving Pacific Northwest style textiles before beginning his craft as a wood-turner upon moving with his wife to Portland, Oregon, and was approached directly by members of the Tlingit tribe to carve Tlingit masks. Rich and his wife were then formally adopted into the Tlingit tribe in the year 2000. His Tlingit name is "Kut Daa Jaa Gu," and his wife's Tlingit name is "Shawat Googh." Rich is known throughout the Pacific Northwest Coast for his fine craftsmanship of traditional Tlingit face masks, rattles, hat fronts, and textiles.
This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.
Provenance: private Alamo collection, Alamo, California, USA, before 2000
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#167563
Condition Report: Surface wear and scratches to the wood. Nicks and chips to high pointed areas. Intact. Not signed. Suspension filament wire added to verso for suspension.
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Native American, Pacific Northwest Coast, Tlingit, ca. late 20th to 21st century CE. A stunning wooden mask expertly hand-carved and painted by the Tlingit artist Rich LaValle. Embellished with painted red and black pigments, this striking visage displays a naturalistic old man's face, saggy, wrinkled skin, and deep brows. The slightly open mouth displays his teeth, and his thick, exaggeratedly protruding lower lip is adorned with an iridescent abalone shell inlay along its top. His protruding ears are pierced and strung with dangling copper sheets, cut and painted as stylized bears. Lengthy strands of horsehair flow from the top of the mask and are inserted via petite, annular drill holes along the top periphery of the forehead. Drilled openings just above the eyes and through the nostrils and mouth allow the mask wearer to see through. Size: 11.25" L x 8.75" W (28.6 cm x 22.2 cm)
Rich LaValle has been a Tlingit wood carver since 2000, though he was not born into the Tlingit culture. He began weaving Pacific Northwest style textiles before beginning his craft as a wood-turner upon moving with his wife to Portland, Oregon, and was approached directly by members of the Tlingit tribe to carve Tlingit masks. Rich and his wife were then formally adopted into the Tlingit tribe in the year 2000. His Tlingit name is "Kut Daa Jaa Gu," and his wife's Tlingit name is "Shawat Googh." Rich is known throughout the Pacific Northwest Coast for his fine craftsmanship of traditional Tlingit face masks, rattles, hat fronts, and textiles.
This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.
Provenance: private Alamo collection, Alamo, California, USA, before 2000
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#167563
Condition Report: Surface wear and scratches to the wood. Nicks and chips to high pointed areas. Intact. Not signed. Suspension filament wire added to verso for suspension.
Sale price
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
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