Ancient American Carved Steatite Stone Bowl with 3 eagle handles; Height: 2 inches = 52 mm; Weight: 110 g; Condition: No defects, pleasant to touch; Provenance: Bought at Prehistoric and Historic artifact Auction in Ohio, USA. References: As with many American Indian arts, there were originally many different native sculpture traditions in North America. In the Southwest, Indian sculptors carved small stone figurines in animal, human, and supernatural shapes, usually known as "storytellers" or "fetishes." Further to the north, the Inuit ("Eskimos") carved ceremonial dance masks from wood and figurines from ivory and soapstone. Soapstone (also known as steatite or soaprock) is a metamorphic rock, a talc-schist. It is largely composed of the mineral talc and is thus rich in magnesium. It is produced by dynamothermal metamorphism and metasomatism, which occurs in the areas where tectonic plates are subducted, changing rocks by heat and pressure, with influx of fluids, but without melting. It has been a medium for carving for thousands of years. Historical Uses Soapstone is used for inlaid designs, sculpture, coasters, and kitchen countertops and sinks. The Inuit often use soapstone for traditional carvings. Some Native American tribes and bands make bowls, cooking slabs, and other objects from soapstone; historically, this was particularly common during the Late Archaic archaeological period.[2] Locally quarried soapstone was used for gravemarkers in 19th century northeast Georgia around Dahlonega and Cleveland, as simple field stone and "slot and tab" tombs. Vikings hewed soapstone directly from the stone face, shaped it into cooking-pots, and sold these at home and abroad.[3] Soapstone is sometimes used for fireplace surrounds and woodstoves, because it can absorb and evenly distribute heat while being easy to manufacture. It is also used for counter tops. A weathered or aged appearance will occur naturally over time as the patina is enhanced. Applying mineral oil simply darkens the appearance of the stone; it does not protect it in any way.
Condition No defects, pleasant to touch;
Low Estimate: 500;
High Estimate: 1000;
Original: Yes;
Circa: 500-1500 AD;