Wood, Twisted Fiber, Ivory
24.8 cms x 12.7 cms x 6.4 cms (9.76 ins x 5 ins x 9.76 ins)
Tlingit
Lot offered for sale by Waddington's, Toronto at the auction event "Fall Inuit Auction" held on Mon, Nov 8, 2010.
Lot 50
Lot 50
Estimate: CAD $2,000 - $4,000
Sale price withheld by the Auction house
Sale price withheld by the Auction house
Lot description - from the online catalogue*
Provenance:
Sir George Simpson Collection, 1782-1860, (Governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Territories),
Christie’s, Important Tribal Art, July 1982, lot 85, London,
Private Collection, Montreal
Notes:
“Tlingit halibut hooks are constructed of two arms of different wood lashed together in V-shaped form. A barb is attached to the unadorned arm while the other, to which the leader is attached, is carved in considerable detail. The images on the decorated arm are said to be spirit helpers which lure the halibut to the baited hook. It is said that hooks have individual names which relate to the primary image carved on the decorated arm.
The fisher will often chant, encouraging the halibut to take the bait by reminding the fish of its hunger. The hook is lowered to the ocean floor with a stone weight. A line runs to the surface and is attached to a wooden seal gut buoy which bobs on the surface to alert the fisher to his catch.”
Christie’s American Indian Art auction catalogue, April 2002. (Jay Stewart Peter MacNair, March 1, 2002)
Sir George Simpson Collection, 1782-1860, (Governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Territories),
Christie’s, Important Tribal Art, July 1982, lot 85, London,
Private Collection, Montreal
Notes:
“Tlingit halibut hooks are constructed of two arms of different wood lashed together in V-shaped form. A barb is attached to the unadorned arm while the other, to which the leader is attached, is carved in considerable detail. The images on the decorated arm are said to be spirit helpers which lure the halibut to the baited hook. It is said that hooks have individual names which relate to the primary image carved on the decorated arm.
The fisher will often chant, encouraging the halibut to take the bait by reminding the fish of its hunger. The hook is lowered to the ocean floor with a stone weight. A line runs to the surface and is attached to a wooden seal gut buoy which bobs on the surface to alert the fisher to his catch.”
Christie’s American Indian Art auction catalogue, April 2002. (Jay Stewart Peter MacNair, March 1, 2002)
Most realised prices include the Buyer's Premium of 18-25%, but not the HST/GST Tax.
(*) Text and/or Image might be subject matter of Copyright. Check with Waddington's auction house for permission to use.
(*) Text and/or Image might be subject matter of Copyright. Check with Waddington's auction house for permission to use.