Inuit & First Nations Art

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May 29, 2024 at 7:00 pm ET

Online Auction
LOT 115

Lot 115

Unidentified Tlingit Artist

Unidentified Tlingit Artist
Lot 115 Details
Unidentified Tlingit Artist

SHAMAN'S AMULET WITH RAVEN AND DEVILFISH DESIGN, CA. 1865

bone
on custom display stand
8 x 1.25 x .25 in — 20.3 x 3.2 x 0.6 cm

Estimate $3,000-$4,000

Realised: $2,500
Price Includes Buyer's Premium ?

Lot Report

Additional Images
Unidentified Tlingit Artist
  • Unidentified Tlingit Artist
Provenance:

Charles and Francis Reif Collection by repute
Seahawk Auctions, Burnaby, BC, 27 Oct 2008, lot 72
Private Collection, British Columbia

Note:

The Tlingit Ixt' (shaman) wore amulets either as individual pendants, as part of a group making up necklaces, or sewn to tunics or aprons. The vast majority of examples are pierced to accommodate attachment. The imagery on the present example punningly intermingles the form of a raven with a devilfish or octopus, a creature often associated with shamanastic activities. The form of this example is unusual in its explicit articulation of the head and eyes of the devilfish, whose presence is more typically implied by rows of tendrils punctuated with the creature's many suckers.

Related Works:
Allen Wardwell, Tangible Visions: Northwest Coast Indian Shamanism and its Art (New York: Monacelli Press, 2009), 174, pl. 209, pl. 211.

Many countries prohibit or restrict importation or exportation of property containing ivory, whale bone, sealskin, and/or products derived from other endangered or protected species, and require special licenses or permits in order to import or export such property. It is the responsibility of the buyer to ensure that the item is properly and lawfully exported / imported. Please do not hesitate to contact one of our specialists for further details.

CONDITION DETAILS

Overall very good condition, minute imperfections.

Please contact the specialist for further condition information.

LOT 115
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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.