Description:

Native American, Alabama, Morgan County, Mississippian, ca. 1100 to 1500 CE. A mesmerizing ensemble of five freshwater mussel shell amulets/gorgets with mother of pearl iridescence, each with Hemphill style engraving. Two shells present human profile images - perhaps to represent Hero Twins known as Lightning Boy and Thunder Boy in the Mississippian tradition; one features a fish with sun and feather imagery; another presents a spider with tree like imagery; the last features serpent imagery. All are characters from the South Eastern Complex creation stories during the late Mississippian period. A very unique group of shell amulets, each perforated for suspension. Size of largest: 2" L x 1.2" W (5.1 cm x 3 cm)

Provenance: ex old private collection, Ohio, USA, 1970s

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.

#139862

  • Condition: All items have minor abrasions, nicks to surfaces, light encrustations, and light softening to some incised details, otherwise intact and very good. Nice earthen deposits and remains of incised details throughout.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

July 9, 2020 10:00 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