Lot 45
**Originally Listed At $1000**
Chief Don Smith "Lelooska" (Native American, Cherokee / adopted Kwakwaka'wakw, 1933-1996), ca. mid to late 20th century CE, "Carved Potlatch Hat." A superb hand carved wooden ceremonial hat with a conical brim supporting an orca inlaid with nacre shell, and dangling horsehair tassels. This type of hat is intended for ceremonial use during potlaches and the hat / carved motifs would mark the clan affiliation. The interior is signed "Lelooska," a famed storyteller and carver specializing in Pacific Northwest cultures. Size: 15" Diameter x 21" H (38.1 cm x 53.3 cm)
Chief Lelooska born Don Smith, was of Cherokee / Osage descent, born in California before relocating to Oregon in the 1930s. He grew up learning traditional crafts under the guidance of his mother and maternal grandfather. His mother, Mary Smith, crafted dolls and other curios for roadside / state fair sales, and Don Smith took up carving; through this the family formed ties and gained attention from local tribal members in Oregon. At a young age he was adopted into the Kwakwaka'wakw tribe by Chief James Aul Sewid and given the name "Lelooska" which granted him the hereditary rights and chieftaincy privileges of the Sewid lineage. Lelooska immersed himself in Native American art and culture - studying Northwest Coast cedar carvings, languages, and developing local education programs. The Lelooska Foundation established in 1977 is a museum, workshop, performance space, and Native American heritage center that carries on his legacy.
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 Litchfield, Ohio, 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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#186762
- Condition: Surface stains and discoloration. Some scuffs and small chips to surface, but otherwise intact. Signed by artist on the interior. Overall great condition.
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| 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 |