This is an outstanding hand carved articulated Thunderbird Mask by Dwayne Simeon (b.1960), a master carver from the Northwest Coast Haida / Nuu-chah-nulth, dating to circa 1990’s. Provenance: The piece comes with an Appraisal from Douglas Reynolds Gallery Vancouver, B.C., dated August 8, 1998, stating this to be an authentic Dwayne Simeon Thunderbird Mask from the Esperti Collection, valued at $5,600.00. The mask is constructed of solid Red Cedar and Cedar Bark deeply carved in traditional Kwagiulth Haida / Nuu-chah-nulth Pacific Northwest Coast totem geometric patterns. This is a very large, full-size Thunderbird mask with articulated mouth. The piece is one of Dwayne Simeon’s finest large works and is well preserved and in good condition. The bottom of the articulated mouth piece is further carved with a totem effigy face and the entire piece along the bottom (which is solid and carved out for the users head to fit). The back and top are draped in the grass fringes. Dwayne Simeon was born in 1960 in Cape Mudge, British Columbia, Canada and is a Nuu-chah-nulth / Haida Pacific Northwest Coast Native American. He started his career around 1977, apprenticing under renowned artists, such as Tony Hunt and John Livingston. Although he is of Haida background, Simeon works in the Kwagiulth style. The artist describes this Thunderbird Mask as being the most powerful mythological characters of the Northwest Coast Native art form. Thunderbird’s arrival is announced by loud claps of thunder and the lightning snakes he snatches from under his wings to stun his prey, the Killer Whale / Orca. They also can transform into human form. The Douglas Reynolds Gallery Appraisal confirming the above information, giving a $5,600 value and telling the pieces story is included with the piece. Measures overall 44”L by 24”W by 11”W (including the grasses below). $5,600 in 1998 is equivalent to $9,424 in 2021, as per inflation.