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HISTORY / MATERIALS
Arctic Traveler's Gift Shop 201 Cushman St. Fairbanks, AK. 99701 Phone: (907) 456-7080 Email: info@arctictravelersgiftshop.com
WE WRAP, PACK, AND SHIP!
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MASKS Anatuvik Pass Masks: The process of making a caribou hide mask is a fairly simple process. The inside of the caribou skin, preferably unblemished, is scraped to remove the membranes and to soften it. Then the hair is cut from the opposite side with an ulu (Eskimo knife) leaving stubble of about an eighth of an inch on the inside of the mask. Next the skin is cut into oval shaped pieces which are soaked for a few minutes in tea, coffee, cocoa or water to soften them and give them color. The wet pieces are next stretched tightly over the hand frames and either nailed or sewn on and hung over the stove to dry overnight. The next day the now hard, colored mask is removed from its frame and eyes, nose and mouth holes are cut. Next, sewn on with sinew, comes the beard and hair which are made from caribou legs. The eyelashes (made from caribou or calfskin), and the eyebrows (trimmed caribou) comes next. Finally the ruff is put on. This usually is made of wolf but in many cases lynx, fox or grizzly bear make suitable substitutes. Whalebone Masks: Whalebone masks are made from slices of vertebrae and decorated with baleen and ivory. They are very popular, affordable and often trimmed with a polar bear ruff. by Michael S. Cline for Alaska Magazine |
