Waddington's

Inuit Art

November 20, 2018

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LOT 144

Lot 144

Lot 144 Details

WALRUS AMULET, OLD BERING SEA II

ivory
1 x 1 x 0.6 in — 2.5 x 2.5 x 1.5 cm

Estimate $600-$900

Realised: $840
Price Includes Buyer's Premium ?

More Details Below   ↓

Lot Report

Note:

Ivory amulets were often found on hunting visors and hats, the Inuit believing that such charms protected them from forces outside their control and aided them in the hunt. Although amulets functioned in a wide variety of context, they were often used to attract the animal to the hunter; to appease the animal so that it would allow itself to be killed, and to return the animal's "shade" or spirit back to the land or sea.

Amulets generally represent the desired game and were often rendered in bone, antler, wood or most commonly, ivory.

Paul & Mary Thirty, Eskimo Artifacts: Designed for Use, 1977, page 140

CONDITION DETAILS

Condition report available upon request

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LOT 144
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About Condition Ratings

  • 5 Stars: Excellent - No discernable damage, flaws or imperfections
  • 4 Stars: Very Good - Minor flaws or imperfections visible only under close inspection using specialised instruments or black light
  • 3 Stars: Good - Minor flaws visible upon inspection under standard lighting
  • 2 Stars: Fair - Exhibits flaws or damage that may draw the eye under standard lighting
  • 1 Star: Poor - Flaws or damage immediately apparent under standard lighting (examples: missing components, rips, broken glass, damaged surfaces, etc.)

Note: Condition ratings and condition details are the subjective opinions of our specialists and should be used as a guide only. Waddington’s uses due care when preparing condition details, however, our staff are not professional restorers or conservators. Condition details and reports are not warranties and each lot is sold “as is” in accordance with the buyer’s terms and conditions of sale. In all cases the prospective purchaser is responsible for inspecting the property themselves prior to placing a bid.