Dance Mask

early 20th century

Not on view

During the long, harsh winters in the Arctic, local people traditionally gathered indoors for celebrations of performance cycles. These featured feasts and masked dances in order to maintain harmony between the human, animal, and supernatural realms for the coming year. The masks worn by costumed dancers were often danced in pairs and represented a variety of animals, supernatural beings, and animal helpers. Humorous examples were also known, including caricatures of local personalities meant to entertain the spectators.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

Title: Dance Mask
Date: early 20th century
Geography: United States, Alaska
Culture: Yup'ik
Medium: Wood, paint, feathers
Dimensions: H. 24 x W. 23 3/4 x D. 6 1/2 in. (61 x 60.3 x 16.5 cm)
Classification: Wood-Costumes
Credit Line: The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979
Object Number: 1979.206.1120
Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

More Artwork

From the same culture

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

North Wind Mask (Negakfok), Wood, paint, feathers, Yup'ik — North Wind Mask (Negakfok)
Yup'ik
early 20th century

Bearded Seal Mask, Wood, ivory, leather thong, Yup'ik — Bearded Seal Mask
Yup'ik
20th century

Mask, Whalebone, ivory, Inuit — Mask
Inuit
20th century

Horse Mask, Juanita Growing Thunder Fogarty Native American, Native-tanned leather, porcupine quills, glass beads, turkey feathers, wool cloth, brass buttons, brass rings, silk ribbon, Assiniboine-Sioux — Horse Mask
Juanita Growing Thunder Fogarty
2008

Mask Model, Ezechiel Tapia, Wood, Olmec-style — Mask Model
Ezechiel Tapia
20th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.