This is a phenomenal 19th Century Tlingit / Haida Northwest Coast Indians forged copper large dag knife with figural Bear Totem carved head. The piece is very large, showing a forged copper double-edge dag fighting knife blade with unique heavy raised ridge median running down the center of both sides (this highly raised ridge has been documented on other 1800-1880 Northwest Coast Indian dag knives). The handle is wrapped in heavy red Stroud trade cloth with a heavy waxed hide like with hard surface being hide lace or sinew sewn. At the end shows a large pommel totem carving showing the Bear Tlingit carving with copper overlay tacked with small copper nails at the eye brown, atop the ear and eye, also being inlaid with Mother of Pearl / Abalone.For reference see the circa 1825-1830, Tlingit Fighting Dagger Knife from the Robert J. Ulrich collection in the Minneapolis Institute of Art Museum #2007.101 noted as ?Every Tlingit man owned and carried a fighting dagger, which was always by his side. The Tlingit referred to this type of dagger as quoth-lar, meaning "to strike with the fist," and they used weapons like this against Native and non-Native enemies. The steel was probably salvaged from ship parts found on the shores of Alaska. The blade was Native-forged and is slightly concave for strength and ease of sharpening.The bear, a central theme in Tlingit art, is considered a relative to humans. It has spiritual power because of this and is highly respected in Tlingit traditions. The pommel of this dagger is unusual for the exceptionally fine and highly detailed carving of the bear's open mouth and teeth.? The knife in the MIA collection is nearly identical to the one offered in this lot showing the bear Tlingit head, wrapped handle and long dagger hand sword blade with heavy raised ridge. For additional documented nearly identical knives see: Tlingit 1850-1860, with Bear Pommel in the Met Museum collection; Tlingit 1860-1880, Copper Dagger offered for $20,000-$30,000 in Sotheby?s; Photographed in the Penn Museum Fig. 4. ?War Knives of the Tlingit? Image Number 12671 (photo shown for reference); the Tlingit Dagger with Bear Pommel 1880-1900, offered by Sotheby?s for $25,000-$35,000; and the Tlingit 19th Century Dagger with Bear Pommel also in the Met Museum collection. The piece has a nice deep patina, well kept for its age. Provenance: From a private Native American collection in Northern California. Measures 17.75?L x 2.5?W with the blade being 10 5/8?L x 2?W. Total weight of 12 oz.*

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