Native American, Pacific Northwest Coast, United States or Canada, Tlingit or Haida people, ca. 19th century CE. A fine pair of hand carved totemic pendants made from marine mammal bone in the classic formline style that is iconic of the Pacific Northwest. The first is of a skeletal shaman figure, with delineated ribs, gaping mouth, and wide vacant eyes. The tall headdress is indicative of the ceremonial goat horn crown of shamans. The other pendant is a highly stylized creature with a fish like tail and a forward-facing head with horns and teeth. The tail tip is pierced for suspension, and the shoulders of the shaman pendant are also perforated for suspension. Protective pendants or charms like these were worn on cords or folded into clothing, imbued with power from the shamans or spirit animals depicted. Size: 3" L x 1.125" W (7.6 cm x 2.9 cm)
Provenance: private Brevard, North Carolina, USA collection
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#171047
Condition
Natural bone surface pitting and ossification and some softening to finer details, otherwise intact and very good.