Description:

Please note this item falls under the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act and is not eligible for international shipping. Native American, Alaska Native, & Native Hawaiian objects are only eligible to ship within the United States. If you live outside of the USA and you bid/win, your bid will be cancelled. Please bid accordingly.

Native American, Pacific Northwest Coast, United States & Canada, Haida / Tlingit, ca. mid to late 20th century CE. A beautiful, lidded, spruce wood box overlaid in gorgeous, embossed copper sheet on the lid and sides, with leather lining the interior. The lid and the front and end copper-clad faces have classic formline motifs hammered into surface, the lid with an eagle, the end panels with an anthropomorphic sun - copper symbolic of wealth; when polished, its surface was likened to the sun. The frontal face has sharp teeth like a wolf and ovoid heads in each corner; this may be a depiction of the shape-shifting sea monster or "sea-wolf" Gonakadet (Wasgo) who is the guardian of wealth, or possibly Kumugwe, chief of the undersea world and wealth. The lid opens with a chain stay support, the interior and base lined with soft suede. Traditionally, bentwood boxes were used for storing and serving water and foodstuffs. Today, many are made as beautiful pieces of art, this one is unsigned. Size: 16.25" L x 9.75" W x 10.5" H (41.3 cm x 24.8 cm x 26.7 cm)

Please note this item falls under the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act and is not eligible for international shipping. Native American, Alaska Native, & Native Hawaiian objects are only eligible to ship within the United States.

Provenance: ex-Of-The-Earth Gallery, Flagstaff Arizona, USA, private Don Phelps collection, owner Todos Santos Trading Post, Alamo, California, USA.

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.

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#179766

  • Condition: Areas of green patina on the copper and dark toning. Some wear to interior suede and russet patina on iron hinges. Overall good condition.

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August 4, 2023 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
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$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