Lot 252
**First Time At Auction**
Northwest Coast, Alaska, carved by Rich Lavalle (adopted Tlingit name Kut Daa Jaa Gu),1965 CE. Signed and dated on underside of the beaked head. A compelling black argillite pipe finely carved in the form of an eagle in flight with an expressive visage comprised of wide-open eyes inlaid with iridescent abalone shell, a curvaceous beak, and crest feathers. The eagle's talons are raised and its wings - also adorned with abalone shell inlays - are laid back as if zeroing in on its prey. Argillite is a fine-grained sedimentary rock that is typically black in color and lustrous once polished; it often has an impressively smooth appearance that truly makes the carving come to life as we see in this example. In the 19th century, the Haida people began to carve this material as a trade good for visiting Europeans and Americans, because of the decline of their traditional economic practice of fishing. Argillite carvings served as a way to show their artistic merit in addition to introducing Northwest Coast iconography to the outside world. Size: 2.75" W x 2.5" H (7 cm x 6.4 cm); 3.45" H (8.8 cm) on included custom stand.
Rich Lavalle has been a carver working in the tradition of the Northwest Coast native peoples for more than fifty years. In October of 2000 he was adopted by the George family of the Tlingit tribe. His Tlingit name is Kut Daa Jaa Gu. Note that this name as well as the year '65 is incised in the bottom of the eagle's neck/beak. Lavalle is authorized to wear symbols of the Raven Cave, two headed raven, raven, killer whale, bull head, sockeye salmon, wood worm, rat and North Star lives. Lavalle lives with his wife (also an adopted Tlingit) for part of each year in a cabin on Killisnoo Island in Angoon, Alaska.
Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection
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#155315
- Condition: Very light wear commensurate with age including a few tiny scratches, but overall in excellent condition with all shells present. Signature on underside of beak.
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