Description:

Native American / First Nations, Northwest Coast United States, Alaska or Canada, Inupiaq / Inuit people, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A hand carved whale bone sculptural scene of ice fisherman waiting by a hole cut in the ice to spear his fish. The tall sides represent ice or snow packed walls that were commonly constructed as wind shelters. The spear the figure is holding is also a traditional form, a three-pronged leister known as kakivak. Size: 7,75" L x 5" W x 5.3" H (1968.5 cm x 12.7 cm x 13.5 cm)

Whale bone sculpture requires the use of old bone that has dried and ossified - new bone will splinter and be too oily to carve- hence the wonderfully aged and weathered appearance, and remains of lichen on the underside of this piece!

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: private Greenwood Village, Colorado, 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.

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#181741

  • Condition: Natural ossification and surface pitting and stable pressure fissures to front. Spear and fishing lure are not attached to the sculpture. Adhesive residue on surface from attaching the fish and hunter in place.

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December 14, 2023 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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