Description:

North America, Pacific Northwest, United States, Alaska or Canada, Chilkat region, Tlingit, , ca. 19th century CE. A whalebone carved into a pointed trap stake with a predatory bird eating a small mammal finial, the eagle motif imbued a spiritual power into the bone, enticing prey towards the trap. Ground squirrels and marmots were hunted for their fur and meat using snares and deadfall traps- the stakes were used in both set ups. Marmot specific snares used longer stakes that were pegged near a burrow with a noose attached to the end. The stake is displayed in a modern case. Size of bone: 11.5" L x 1.5" W (29.2 cm x 3.8 cm); case: 20" L x 8" W x 1.5" H (50.8 cm x 20.3 cm x 3.8 cm)

For additional information and comparable examples of trap stakes, please see the Royal BC Museum article by Grant Keddie "Marmot Trap Triggers in the Royal B.C. Museum Ethnology Collection," published May 29th, 2019.

Provenance: private West Jordon, Utah, USA collection

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#178506

  • Condition: Natural pitting and ossification to bone, old chip / loss to pointed tip, otherwise excellent. Dark patina. Displayed in modern case.

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July 14, 2023 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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