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Marine mammal ivory amulet carved in embryonic form with abalone shell inlay - Donald Ellis Gallery

Shaman's Amulet

Tsimshian
Northern British Columbia

2nd quarter of the 19th century

marine mammal ivory, abalone shell

Inventory # N1384

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acquired by the Thomson Collection now at the Art Gallery of Ontario


Carved in the form of an embryonic anthro/zoomorphic figure, abalone shell inlaid in the eye socket and in two ovoids along the back, the long tail circling back and held by hand to mouth; two drilled holes for suspension from neck along back.

PROVENANCE

Charles Ratton, Paris, France
John Hewitt, London, England
George Ortiz, Geneva, Switzerland

RELATED EXAMPLE

For a similar example collected by Newcombe at Aiyansh, now at the Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, BC (9681) see:
Allen Wardwell, Tangible Visions: Northwest Coast Indian Shamanism and its Art, New York: The Monacelli Press, 1996, pg. 214