Alcheringa Gallery
665 Fort Street
Victoria, BC, Canada
TEL: (250) 383-8224
FAX: (250) 383-9399
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Kuniisii Niijaanguu (Ancestor's Mask)
Christian White
(Haida)
Northwest Coast
2008
argillite, abalone, mastodon ivory
Mask and stand: 2" H x 1" 3/16" W x 1" 14/16"
Mask: 1" x 1" x 1"
$3,800.00 CDN
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This mask reflects on the early custom among my people of creating portrait masks to resemble a deceased relative. Such a mask would be danced by a close family member to honour the ancestor.
By creating this mask I am also making reference to the recent repatriation of ancestor remains from museums in North America and also the United Kingdom. I rejoice that not only have museums released ancestor remains, the opening of the doors of these institutions has also created opportunities for our First Nations people to serve as interns, as well as to view and handle early works held in these collections.
The surface carving on the mask represents various aspects of Raven. A wing can be seen on the forehead, an eye on one cheek and a claw on the other.
Christian White,
November 2008
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