Native American, Northern United States, Alaska, Inuit, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A hand carved wooden snuff box in the form a charming whale! The lower jaw and stomach form the lid and come apart from the rest of the body entirely to reveal the hollow storage cavity. The whale borders between stylized and cartoonish, with a rounded, humped back, circular eyes, and open mouth with incised rows of teeth. His blow hole is incised and burnished on the center of his back as well. Storage boxes for chewing tobacco or snuff mixed with ash, were often finely carved from bone or wood, to keep the cherished tobacco dry. Size: 4.75" L x 1.75" W (12.1 cm x 4.4 cm)

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#166444

Stable pressure fissures to back and tail. Light encrustations from use within storage cavity. Minor surface wear and scratches. Intact and very good!