#89 • A Nunivak Island Yup'ik Avian-Themed Dance Staff by Kay Hendrickson

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

High bid $1,700.00

Status: Sold

Category: Ethnographic Objects

A large and visually striking polychrome-painted wooden dance wand by celebrated Cup'ig artist Kay Hendrickson (1909-2001) of Nunivak Island, Alaska. Executed in the traditional cruciform form, the staff supports eleven individually carved birds arranged in opposing rows around a central upright. The avian forms include puffins, loons, murres, and other seabirds rendered with distinctive species-specific profiles and decorated with finely painted feathers in black, cream, pink, and brown pigments. Thin wooden rods passing through the birds symbolize hunting darts or harpoons, indicating the birds have been taken. Dance wands such as this were employed during Cup'ig winter ceremonies and community festivals, where dancers imitated the movements of birds while recounting stories of hunting, seasonal cycles, and the spiritual relationship between humans and animals. Hendrickson was among the foremost artists of Nunivak Island and became widely recognized for his expressive masks, dance objects, and sculptural interpretations of traditional Cup'ig culture. This impressive example exhibits excellent scale and dynamic asymmetrical composition, with a checkerboard-painted shaft and an array of upright and swimming birds creating movement throughout the piece. Due to the delicate construction, several birds exhibit looseness and some are no longer firmly attached, as photographed. Measures approximately 18" x 42" x 5.25", excluding the projecting rods. 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. Note Regarding Shipping Services: This item is exceptionally large and/or heavy, and may require custom boxing or crating depending on the intended destination and available carrier services. For more information prior to bidding, please email us at Shipping@AlaskaPremierAuctions.com or call/text us at 907.570.7050.