Description:

Native American, Western United States, Apache, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A rare hide medicine cap with feathers and dentalium shell beads, and a wood fetish figure in a hide pouch. The cap is painted with a stylized figure with zigzagging lines symbolizing lightning, and a similar lightning motif is used on the wood fetish figure as well. The flat figure rests in a slender hide pouch with a shell button closure. The wood fetish and painted cap figure represent deities or spirits the shaman would summon to aid him in healing rituals; the wood was usually taken from a lightning struck tree and the carved figures were usually always carried on the shaman's person. The pieces are displayed in a modern wood and glass display case, and included is a copy of a photograph of a similar cap and fetish figure taken by Edward Curtis in 1907, which can also be viewed in the USA Library of Congress collection, # 94506963. Size of cap: 9.5" L x 6" W (24.1 cm x 15.2 cm); case: 21.125" L x 17.125" W (53.7 cm x 43.5 cm)

Provenance: private West Jordon, Utah, USA collection; ex-Iowa, USA collection, acquired at the New Mexico Indian Arts Show, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

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#178507

  • Condition: Not examined outside of case. Wear to hide with staining, discoloration, and fading to painted pigments. Wood fetish figure has faded pigments, but intact. Comes in modern wood and glass case with a copy of a photograph taken by Edward Curtis of a similar cap.

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July 28, 2023 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$2,000 $4,999 $250
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$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000