#34 • Inupiaq Spirit Mask - Frank Ellanna

Part of December 2025 Premier Auction (live auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

High bid $650.00

Status: Sold

Category: Ethnographic Objects

A spirit mask, likely representing a bear or an animal spirit, by Inupiaq artist Frank Ellanna (1907-1990), whose impressive carvings are housed within the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. These types of masks are part of the rich cultural traditions of the Native peoples of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest Coast. The large, prominent teeth and wide, toothy mouth are a characteristic feature, sometimes symbolizing the spirit of an animal (like a bear) or an animal's revenge on human hunters. The specific spirit represented would be a manifestation of a shaman's vision, brought into solid form for a dance performance. The mask is handcrafted from wood, featuring an unfinished upper section and a pigmented lower jaw area. It has prominent teeth, which appear to be walrus tusk or bone inlays. Signed and dated c.1972 en verso by the artist. Prepared for hanging with a leather cord, mask measures approximately 6.25" x 4.75" x 9.5" tall.