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Images(2)

Gagiit Mask

Date1895-1901

Mediumalder, paint

DimensionsOther: 12 × 7 × 16 cm (4 3/4 × 2 3/4 × 6 5/16 in.)

ClassificationsCeremonial Objects

Terms

Paper Field ReferencesCMH VII-B-526

Object numberHRC 00526

Descriptionpainted silver grey. no other colouring. carving relies upon the texture and grooves of the wood rather than ornamentation. also the carving expresses intense goulish features. great care is taken with symmetry. the lines of the carving flow smoothly, indent and protrude. three rounded upwards furrows mark the wrinkles of the forehead. the sculpture arches above the eyes to indicate brows. the eye sockets fall into sunken grooves. the eyes are small in proportion to the face wiht bulging sockets, the line of the eye shape is extended towards both edges of the mask. two wrinkles follow the cheek line which flows from the nose around and down to the mouth. the nose sweeps upward with deep carved nostrils. again there is a deep groove which extends about the mouth. the lips are parted and sinister. the upper lip comes around and down the lower one as a mustache. the lower one extends tongue like from within the upper lip. the chin in comparison is gentle and restrained. the head is supported on a neck piece perhaps the collor is indicated. the bottom flat of the sculpture is mooth as tends to be the flow of the entire carving. the mask's wood tends to be rather thick. little is hollowed out at he back. there are two small holes on either side grooves above the eyebrows. there is also another hole beneath the chin in centre place. these may have been a part of the original carving.
collected in Massett

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