Collection
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Arts of the Americas

Mask of a Valley Ptarmigan

Yup'ik

1 of 3

Object Label

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.

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) Mount (on board): 18 × 12 × 7 1/2 in. (45.7 × 30.5 × 19.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, A. Augustus Healy Fund, 44.34.7.

Gallery

Not on view

Culture

Yup'ik

Title

Mask of a Valley Ptarmigan

Date

early 20th century

Medium

Wood, feather, pigment

Classification

Masks

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)

Credit Line

A. Augustus Healy Fund

Accession Number

44.34.7

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Artists and makers

Yup'ik

16 works in the collection