**First Time At Auction**

Native American, Northwestern United States, Alaska, King Island, Yupik, ca. late 19th century CE. This is a gorgeous hand-carved wooden feasting dish in the form of a seal. The seals tail and rear flippers form a handle at one end and the head protrudes opposite. The shallow basin is ovoid with a painted black motif within the center. The flippers and head are lacquered with a sienna brown hue and detailed with black pigments. The head is incised with nostrils and eyes. Ceremonial feasting was an important part of Yupik life, and this bowl perhaps contained seal oil or blubber. Bowls were also made specifically for men or women and had different forms, personalized symbols, or images painted on the basin. The short rim on this suggests this belonged to a man. Size: 10" L x 4" W x 0.85" H (25.4 cm x 10.2 cm x 2.2 cm)

Provenance: private Alamo collection, Alamo, California, USA, before 2000

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#167664

Intact and very good. Use and age expected surface wear, abrasions, and nicks. Some fading of black pigments on basin, but clear and stable hair line pressure fissure on base.