Native American / First Nations, Northwest Coast United States, Alaska or Canada, Inupiaq/Inuit people, ca. mid-20th century CE. Hand-carved walrus ivory birds perched on a whale bone cliff face. Miniature animal carvings were traditionally used as amulets to help hunters and small scenes often portrayed the environment the animals lived in. Cliffside bird colonies were an important seasonal food source for Indigenous arctic peoples, nearly everyone who was able to would climb to collect eggs and nesting birds, and large nets were used to harvest incoming birds. Size: 4" L x 2.5" W x 4.5" H (10.2 cm x 6.4 cm x 11.4 cm)

This is an ESA antique exempt piece of ivory and cannot be sold internationally or to anyone residing in the states of California, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. We guarantee that the piece was made prior to 1972.

Provenance: private Greenwood Village, Colorado, USA collection

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.

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#178808

Natural bone ossification and some flaking when handled. Intact and great condition. Unsigned.