SIGNED PAUL TIULANA ALASKAN NATIVE WALRUS SPIRIT MASK. Artist signed PAUL TIULANA Alaskan Native Walrus Spirit Mask with two large, curved tusks which protrude from the upper jaw. The walrus is a vital subsistence animal, symbolizing strength and providing essential resources. These masks were traditionally used in ceremonial dances during winter festivals, where the dancers embody the animal spirits (Yua) to ensure successful hunting, promote healing, and maintain balance between the human, animal, and spirit worlds.
ARTIST PROFILE: PAUL TIULANA (June 20, 1921 - July 17, 1994) was an Inupiaq artist and dancer from Alaska. Originally from King Island, Tiulana was drafted in World War II and injured; his leg was broken and eventually amputated. He relocated to Nome during the 1950s and Anchorage in the 1960s, where he founded a dance group specializing in Inupiat dancing. During the 1980s, he was made a Citizen of the Year by the Alaska Federation of Natives, given a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts for his work in dance and art, and wrote a book about his life in Alaska. - Length: 15 inches. Estimate $200-300
Item is just wood no bone. Length is: 15 inches. In fair condition. Item has a line on the face.
