Mask of a Valley Ptarmigan
Arts of the Americas
This Yup’ik dance mask representing a valley ptarmigan, a bird native to Alaska that was hunted for food, was worn during winter ceremonies to honor the yuit or “inner persons’’ of animals. The dances were a form of prayer in which animal spirits were asked to give their physical bodies to meet the needs of the community.
MEDIUM
Wood, feather, pigment
DATES
early 20th century
DIMENSIONS
17 1/2 × 10 1/2 × 6 in. (44.5 × 26.7 × 15.2 cm)
Mount (on board): 18 × 12 × 7 1/2 in. (45.7 × 30.5 × 19.1 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
44.34.7
CREDIT LINE
A. Augustus Healy Fund
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Yup'ik. Mask of a Valley Ptarmigan, early 20th century. Wood, feather, pigment, 17 1/2 × 10 1/2 × 6 in. (44.5 × 26.7 × 15.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, A. Augustus Healy Fund, 44.34.7. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 44.34.7_PS9.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 44.34.7_PS9.jpg., 2018
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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