Native American, Northwestern United States, Alaska, Inuit or Inupiat people, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. This is an interesting carving of an ominous face using a single large whale vertebra bone to hand sculpt the piece. The spinal canal hole creates a natural base / neck for the carving and the underside of this area is signed in Inuktitut script. The transverse processes are the flared protrusions to the sides- looking very much like horns or wings to represent the transformative spirit of a shaman figure- part bird, part human. The bared teeth are wonderfully delineated and create a very striking and somewhat menacing expression! Whale bone sculpture requires the use of old bone that has dried and ossified - new bone will splinter and be too oily to carve- hence the wonderfully aged and weathered appearance! Size: 12" L x 5" W x 9" H (30.5 cm x 12.7 cm x 22.9 cm)

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-S. and V. Friedman collection, New York City, New York, USA acquired in the 1960s

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.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#171643

Natural ossification, pitting, and stable pressure fissures. Newer chips to base and surfaces. Overall good condition. Old inventory numbers and label on base. Signed in ink with Inuktitut script.