Tlingit Bear Mask: Carved, decorated and painted by Nathan Jackson in 1973. Jackson is from Ketchikan, AK where he still produces contemporary and traditional art, typically in wood and metal, just don’t ask him to include your pet in a totem.
Generally, I am not drawn in by masks, but in this case despite having walked away from it once and having thought I’s surely pick something fishy, I returned to it a gazed into its iridescent eyes. I’d say it was the lines of its face and the contrasting colors against the bright blue.
I would like to know more about the symbolism present in the piece as there are numerous ways to represent one animal. Understanding the meaning behind the details would be interesting. (Ex. Color scheme, 32 rounded teeth instead of 42, etc.)
Museum collection ID II-B-1683
https://education.alaska.gov/collections/Detlobjps.cfm?ObjectID=1205124&rec_num=14&From=obj_key.cfm
