A HEILTSUK MASK | Christie's

A HEILTSUK MASK

Details

A HEILTSUK MASK
Probably a representation of Bakwas, the "Wild Man of the Woods", with exaggerated, grotesque features carved in high relief, with prominent arched brows and applied tubular eyes, large circular flaring nostrils and a downward hooked beak-like nose attached to the chin, open mouth with protruding wide parted lips, skeletal cheeks, with long panels of grayish hair attached above the brow and smaller tufts inserted along the crown, details painted in red and black pigment, adze markings on the interior
12¼in. (31.1cm.) high

Provenance

John Livingston, Victoria
Andy Warhol, Sotheby's New York, April 23, 1988, lot 2606
Chicago Private Collector, Sotheby's New York, May 24, 1994, lot 230

Lot Essay

Bakwas was known as the "Wild Man of the Woods", a supernatural being who was rarely seen. He is identified by "his prominent brow and deep-set eyes; the large flaring nostrils, and recurved beak-like nose; skeletal bony cheeks, and wide drawn back lips (Brown, 1996)."