#36 • Northwest Coast Octopus Portrait Mask – Glen Rabena

Part of June 2026 Premier Auction (live auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

High bid $850.00

Status: Sold

Category: Ethnographic Objects

A Pacific Northwest Coast mask by carver Glen Rabena (b. 1953), signed en verso and distinguished by an imaginative composition centered on a ring of vivid red octopus tentacles radiating from the mouth. The face is further embellished with a carved medial labret inset with mother-of-pearl, a crescent-shaped septum ornament tentatively identified as bone, and eighteen plugs of alternating black and brown horsehair that frame the mask and create a striking sense of movement and texture. Executed in a restrained black, white, and red palette, the work successfully balances traditional Northwest Coast formline design with Rabena's distinctive sculptural interpretation. Rabena began carving in 1970 and studied at the Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Art at K'san before working alongside celebrated Haida artist Robert Davidson. In 1987, Davidson's father formally adopted Rabena into the Haida Eagle Clan, recognizing his dedication to Northwest Coast carving traditions. Originally from Wapato, Washington, Rabena is now based on Hornby Island, British Columbia, where his masks and sculptures continue to reflect both technical mastery and a highly individual artistic vision. Measures approximately 9.5 inches wide by 5 inches deep by 10.5 inches high, with horsehair extending approximately 23 inches. Provenance: Consigned directly by the Bruce Beasley Foundation, established by internationally acclaimed American sculptor Bruce Beasley (b. 1939), whose works are represented in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and numerous other institutions worldwide. The Foundation is dedicated to advancing the appreciation and study of sculpture and three-dimensional art. 100% of the net proceeds from the sale of this lot will be donated to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, supporting its mission to preserve, celebrate, and share the diverse cultures, traditions, languages, and artistic heritage of Alaska Native peoples through education, cultural programming, and community engagement.