Native American, Pacific Northwest Coast, United States, Tsimshian, Haida, or Tlingit, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. An incredible necklace of red wood disc beads, pine nuts, and cobalt glass beads- at the center is a wood soul catcher pendant inlaid with abalone shells. This is a very important pendant, in a stylized, tubular form of 2 zoomorphic heads facing opposite directions, incised with formline motifs and nacre shell inlaid as the bared teeth. The mouths here are covered with abalone, and it is unclear if the interior is hollow or filled. Soul catchers were worn by shaman and used to cure ill patients and became emblems of health and wellbeing ñ it is possible this example was purely symbolic. The necklace is displayed in a modern display case, the magnetic glass door front opens on hinge. case: 13.125" L x 2.75" W x 17.125" H (33.3 cm x 7 cm x 43.5 cm) 4.25" L x 1.25" W (10.8 cm x 3.2 cm)

Sickness and disease were often attributed to spirit possession; thus, the shaman would travel to the spirit world to recover a patient's "lost soul" and employ the soul catcher to contain the soul by plugging the hollow sculpture with wads of shredded cedar bark or other materials. The shaman would then return the soul to its rightful owner in the living world. Malevolent spirits could also be contained in these pendants - shamans would exorcise them from afflicted patients and catch the evil within these soul catchers. It is unclear what happened to these evil spirits and containers - were these permanently encased and not intended to be released?

The glass trade beads that Europeans introduced were highly coveted by Native tribes, and blue was the most prized color of all. In the Chinook Jargon, a trade language used amongst neighboring tribes, there was a specific name for blue beads to convey their importance, and today they are often known as "chief beads," and these often came from Russian fur traders. Before the introduction of glass, pine nuts were often drilled and worn as beads- the treeís nuts and pitch both had medicinal purposes. The necklace is comprised of 2 cotton thread strands - seed beads and alternating pine nuts, wood, and glass, with a larger spherical blue bead tied above the soul catcher. An iron wire loop for suspension was set into the center of the wood and has oxidation from age and exposure.

Provenance: private West Jordon, Utah, USA collection, acquired in October 2012; ex-private Winslow collection, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, owned for over 15 years

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#178494

Stringing threads are delicate and should not be handled regularly. Mineral and earthen deposits on beads. Missing a few abalone inlays to center of pendant. Stable pressure fissures to wood and russet patina to the iron bail loop. Displayed in modern case, front door panel is opens on hinge and has a magnet catch.