Exhibited Tlingit Wood/Hide Frog Hat & Rattle ca. 1910

About Auction

Live

Northwest Coast, Tribal, & Pre-Columbian Art

By Artemis Gallery

May 24, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-05-24 10:00:00 2018-05-24 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Northwest Coast, Tribal, & Pre-Columbian Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/northwest-coast-tribal-pre-columbian-art-3238
Featuring Pacific Northwest Coast Native American Art from respected collector / dealer, Joseph Alphabet. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

View Full Catalog (342)

• Lot Description
  Pacific Northwest Coast, British Columbia, Tlingit or Haida, ca. first decade of the 20th century CE. A wonderful pair including a Potlatch Ceremony frog hat and a rattle. The front section of the hat is carved from wood to represent a frog's head and front feet, while the back cap-like section was framed with wood and covered with stretched animal hide. All is decorated with incised and hand-painted red, yellow, and black details against a teal ground - and the frog's eyes are inlaid with abalone! The interior is lined with cotton fabric, and ties are attached to secure the hat to the wearer's head. Size: hat is 13.5" L x 7.625" W (34.3 cm x 19.4 cm); 13.25" H (33.7 cm) on included custom stand; rattle is 8.375" H (21.3 cm); 9.75" H (24.8 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  The rattle presents a janus-head, with each face showing wide-open eyes, a hooked openwork nose, a V-shaped white crest adorning the forehead, red crescent motifs on the cheeks, an open mouth, and white beard-like form below - all upon a robin's egg blue ground with a natural wood handle. The rattle is comprised of two joined halves, and within the ovoid head are dried seeds which create a percussive sound when shook.
  
  The frog is an animal of great importance in Northwest Coast art and culture. As an amphibian creature that lives in two worlds, in water and on land, the frog is revered for his remarkable flexibility and adaptability, his ability to traverse these worlds as well as to inhabit both the natural and supernatural realms. The frog is also believed to be the spirit helper of shamans. Given its vocal ability to croak, the frog is highly regarded as a great communicator, who represents the voice of the people. What's more, the frog’s songs are believed to be magical, containing divine power. When shown in art as touching or sharing his tongue with another creature, Frog represents an exchange of knowledge and power.
  
  The Tlingit have great respect for frogs, believing that these amphibian creatures bring good luck and fortune. The following legend is from the Cape Fox and Tongass Tlingit people. One day a young lady caught a glimpse of a frog in her path, and she made an insulting remark about frogs. The Tlingit took this as a serious offense that would lead to severe punishment. Soon after this event, the woman met a handsome man who proposed marriage to her. (In reality, he was actually a frog, but appeared to her as a young man.) She agreed to meet him at a lake in the woods a while later. He promised that he would take her to his home and introduce her to his father who was a chief. When they reached the edge of the lake, he asked her to step on a patch of water lilies; however, she was afraid until he demonstrated by stepping on them himself. They soon arrived in his village where he took her to his father's house. Unbeknownst to her, it was actually the frog's home beneath the lake.
  
  Understanding that the young woman had offended the frogs, her relatives thought they would give a feast to honor them in the hopes that they would return her. They delivered an invitation to the lake and prepared the feast. As evening approached, they saw the young woman with two frogs, a large male and a small one - her husband and child - sitting on a marshy spot in the center of the lake, only they soon disappeared. Soon her relatives drained the lake to recover the young woman. She shared her story, but soon perished.
  
  According to legend, those who live extremely devout lives may occasionally see the young woman rise from the middle of the lake. To achieve this, one must fast for many days and subscribe to strict taboos, and immense luck and great riches will come to anyone who succeeds. She is most likely to be seen when the sun shines upon the water, its rays bedazzling her gleaming long hair.
  
  According to the collection label included with this pair, the two artifacts were exhibited at the 1910 Vancouver Canada World's Fair.
  
  Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection, exhibited at the 1910 Vancouver, Canada World's Fair
  
  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.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #133522

  Condition

  Expected surface wear, areas of slight pigment loss, and abraded/frayed areas commensurate with age. The paint has attained a lovely craquelure, particularly on the frog's head and feet. The fabric lining and ties have discolored with age. The abalone shell eye inlays are intact and marvelously iridescent. The rattle shows normal surface wear with nice patina to the natural wood handle. Both have old collection labels numbered "157".
• Shipping Info

  • All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.

• Buyer's Premium
  • 26.50 %