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Mask

Datec. 1860-1880
DimensionsOverall: 14 1/2 × 10 × 5 3/4 in. (36.8 × 25.4 × 14.6 cm)
Object numberT0823
Credit LineGift of Eugene Victor Thaw Art Foundation
Photograph by Richard Walker
Label TextThis mask was collected by Lt. George T. Emmons, an American Naval office stationed in Alaska in the 1880s and 1890s. It is believed that he started to collect soon after his arrival and his duties placed him in frequent contact with native people. He retired from the navy in 1899 but went back to Alaska in 1901. In 1905 Emmons made his first sale to George G. Heye and his American Indian Museum. Both men were compulsive collectors without scientific background and all in all Heye bought about 2,200 objects from Emmons during their near 40 year relationship. This mask was purchased for the museum in 1924. Emmons died in Victoria, British Columbia in 1945.
ProvenanceLt. George T. Emmons; Museum of the American Indian/Heye Foundation (13/3973), New York City, 1924; Julius Carlebach, New York City; Bernard Reis, New York City; Gerald Stiebel, New York City
Bibliography"Tenth Anniversary of the Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art, 1995-2005" in Heritage magazine, 2005, vol 20. pg. 43.

Fognell, Eva and Alexander Brier Marr, eds. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection at the Fenimore Art Museum, 2nd ed. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2016, p. 343.
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5798 STATE HIGHWAY 80
COOPERSTOWN NY, 13326
607-547-1400

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