Q: I purchased this small mask carved in some type of marbled stone at an antique market in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. It is about 5-1/2″ X 3-1/2″. I paid $85.00 for it. I have no idea whether there is any real value to the piece. I have been collecting interesting masks over the years and I just could not resist this one. Curious to know if you might know thew cultural origin…and if in fact there is any value? Mo, 914
A: A lot of small stone sculptures are made by the Inuit of Alaska. Perhaps some of the First Nations people of northern Canada do the same. The question is whether this is a traditional mask to be carried or hung, or more likely, if it is a sculpture meant to be sold. Perhaps some of our visitors will share their opinion.
2 Comments
Trent
This does not look Inuit to me. More likely an African mask based on the Dogon style nose and patterning around the face. The type of stone is also not correct for the Inuit regions.
Jez
We bought a very similar one to the one photographed in France at a brocante, the hair has the same centre parting and the face seems more in keeping with Native North American than African I think, the nose on ours is long and the fuller cheeks also the hair style carved.
The eye lashes and goatee give the look of a barnacle!.