amulet(?);
pendant(?);
dagger(handle?)
- Museum number
- Am1949,22.114
- Description
-
Carving of a flattened curved piece of bone or antler, in the form of a sea creature, perhaps a killer whale. All the details are executed in Northwest Coast style, particular with a series of ovoids and u-forms for the head, including eyes, snout, and lip corner, with two further large ovoids on the body, and fins between the head and body. On the back of the creature is the reclining figure of a human-like mammal, perhaps with a forehead masquette, the hands drawn up under the chin, and the feet placed on other side of what may be the blow hole, drilled through the artefact for a cord. The mouth is excavated on one side only, for an inlay now entirely missing, perhaps once of ivory?, suggesting that it may be an amulet or pendant designed to be worn with the inlay facing out from the wearer. Four ovoids on both sides are inlaid with oval pieces of California haliotis, some of these pierced for suspension, suggesting that they come from re-used earlier possibly California artefacts. The eyes of the humanoid figure may also once have been inlaid. The end of the artefact is however ambiguous, and seems to have been attached to or articulated with an additional part, broken off and missing since before accession. This is indicated by a copper pin which runs through the artefact attaching a further piece of wood, bone or antler. An alternative purpose may therefore have been a dagger handle/hilt.
- Production date
- 1700-1880
- Dimensions
-
Height: 5 centimetres
-
Length: 12 centimetres
-
Depth: 0.50 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Attached is an Oldman probate list number '795'. This is from the Northern Northwest Coast. New description by JCK 11/9/96.
Register 1949:
North West Coast.
Oldman Collection.
See ETH DOC 1307.
- Location
- On display (G26/dc8)
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
1993-95, London, Museum of Mankind, 'Treasures of the Americas'
1999 25 Jun-Present, BM Room 26; Gallery of North America, Case: "The Northwest Coast of America"
- Condition
- Good.
- Acquisition date
- 1949
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Am1949,22.114
