Description:

Native American, Northwestern United States, Alaska, Beringian / Old Bering Sea Culture, ca. 200 BCE to 500 CE. This is a fascinating walrus ivory tool that functioned as a fire starter and possibly fishing tool, with suspension piercings along the upper edge. The ovoid piece has a rounded top and bottom with a central cavity in the center for facilitating a hand or bow drill type of fire starting- the rapid rotary twisting of a rod and friction against the ivory creating sparks. The circular cavity is darkened and black from use, and the rest is very smooth and polished, showing great age, the ivory darkening to a deep brown and caramel hue. A secondary use as a weight for a fishing net may have also been possible, due to the dense quality of the ivory and the suspension holes. Size: 6.5" L x 1" W x 2.25" H (16.5 cm x 2.5 cm x 5.7 cm)

This is an ESA antique exempt piece of ivory and cannot be sold internationally or to anyone residing in the states of California, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. We guarantee that the piece is over 100 years old.

Provenance: private Covington, Louisiana, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#169859

  • Condition: Surface wear around drill holes and fire starter cavity as expected with use. Abrasions and minor nicks, otherwise intact and surface has a great patina and smooth, polished texture.

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February 24, 2022 10:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000