Description:

Native American, Alaska, Inuit, Aleutian, or Punuk peoples, Pre-Contact Period, ca. 100 to 1000 CE. A fine gathering of five sled runners - panels which attached to the base of sled blades to decrease the friction between sled blade and snow - known as "qamutiik" (also qamutik, qamutiq, qamutiiq). Each sled runner panel is hand-carved from either walrus or whale bone and has between four and six drilled attachment holes, and their shape corresponds to the area of the sled blade to which they were attached. Sled runners like these examples were the prehistoric equivalent of an engine supercharger as they allowed sleds to effortlessly glide across the snow and ice at as high of speeds as the sled dogs could generate. Size of largest: 8.1" L x 0.7" W (20.6 cm x 1.8 cm).

Provenance: private southwestern Pennsylvania, 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.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#144728

  • Condition: All sled runners have small chips and abrasions to corners and faces, with age-commensurate ossification as expected, and light darkening to natural color, otherwise intact and very good. Light earthen deposits and fine patina throughout.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

June 20, 2019 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

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