American Southwest Stone Idol Anthropomorphic stone carving, dug from the earth in central New Mexico in the early 1900’s on the property of ‘Pop’ Clem Shaffer. Clem Shaffer arrived in the Mountainair area around 1908 with his wife Lena. Pop and Lena purchased land, operated multiple businesses, and owned as many farms as twenty…
Nootka Mask – c1900 Vintage Nootka mask, c 1900. Carved with a prominent brow and chin, and having great period paint on the exterior. Partial paper label on the interior. Some cracking to the upper left side. (see images). Measures 12.5 inches by 7.5 inches x 7 inches. Price $7500 Click on price to…
Mexican Pole Puppets – circa 1940 Pair of mounted Mexican processional pole puppets. Mexico has long had a tradition of puppetry dating back to the Mayan period. Pole puppets are part of that tradition. Pole puppets, or processional puppets, are carved wood puppets that are mounted on a horizontal shaft attached to a vertical pole…
Han Dynasty Ladle Green glazed, red clay bowl from the Han dynasty, China (206 B.C. to 220 A.D.). Similar pieces are held in museum collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This bowl has a squared-off form with an arching handle and a green glaze with silvering highlights that may be due to degradation. The…
Bateba – Lobi Peoples Bateba – Ti Puo aka Duntundara, (dangerous bateba), with one outstretched arm. Bateba can have a wide range of purposes. This bateba, a Ti Puo or Duntundara, (dangerous bateba), identified by his outstretched arm, was made to protect the owner from harmful forces, disease, and/or witchcraft. Click here to learn…
Bateba – Lobi Peoples Bateba – Ti Puo aka Duntundara, (dangerous bateba), with outstretched arms. Bateba can have a wide range of purposes. This bateba, a Ti Puo or Duntundara, (dangerous bateba), identified by his outstretched arms, was made to protect the owner from harmful forces, disease, and/or witchcraft. It has been told that Christian…
Trobriand Bowl – Massim Peoples Unique Trobriand Bowl – Early 20th Century Unusually carved wood bowl from the Trobriand Islands, the Massim peoples. The Trobriand Islands are an archipelago of coral atolls off the east coast of New Guinea that total approximately 175 square-miles in size.. The Trobriand people are a part of the nation…
Inuit Scrimshaw – Cribbage Board 20th-century Inuit scrimshawed cribbage board. This tusk with scrimshaw appears to be early to mid 20th century and has surrealist qualities I have never seen before in Inuit art. The maker is unknown, but clearly a very talented artist. The artwork is truly magnificent. Measures 11.5 inches long. Good condition.…
19th Century Inuit Scrimshaw – Walrus Tusk Late 19th or early 20th-century Inuit walrus tusk with scrimshaw. The entire tusk is covered with scrimshawed images depicting native peoples hunting, whaling, kayaking, sailing, and dogsledding. Images include human figures, birds, walrus, whales, dogs, structures, and sailing vessels. There are human figures and birds perched on structures,…
Colonial Soldier – circa 1930 Hand-carved Colonial sculpture depicting a French soldier with one knee down and bearing a rifle, and preparing to fire. Colonial carvings are highly collectible, and most depict British soldiers. This sculpture depicts a French soldier, possibly a Senegalese Tirailleurs, (which translates variously as “skirmisher”, “rifleman”, or “sharpshooter”. A designation given…
Luba or Hemba Prestige Stool Early 20th-century prestige stool with a female caryatid carved by a Luba or Hemba artist of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The DRC, formerly Zaire, is a sub-Saharan country of Central Africa. Luba and Hemba peoples are known for their wood carvings, particularly prestige stools. The hierarchy of society…