Native American, Northwestern United States, Alaska, Inuit, ca. 18th to 19th century CE. A hand carved walrus ivory tusk box with a curved lid. The box is likely for containing snuff or other medicinal ingredients. Both ends of the box rim are pierced for suspension, as is the lid, to secure to the box. This is the very tip of the tusk, and the inside is hollowed out but leaves a portion of the porous dentine along the bottom. Storage boxes for chewing tobacco or snuff mixed with ash, were often finely carved from bone or wood, to keep the cherished tobacco dry. Size: 2" L x 1.35" W (5.1 cm x 3.4 cm); 3.75" H (9.5 cm) on included custom stand.
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 is over 100 years old.
Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, 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.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance),
we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#166461
Condition
Stable fissure and break lines from rim towards base on right side of vessel. Lid is not attached. Dark patina and natural ossification. Nice signs of age!