Ivory tube, totemic carving, open mouth at both ends. Carving represents sea animal - whale (?); human figure probably represents man killed by whale (according to Charles Brown). Identified as bone by Dr. Benson - Zoology, 1/16/1959, E.L. Identified as bear leg bone by Charles Brown.
Donor:
Ellinor C. Davidson and George Davidson
Collection place:
Alaska
Verbatim coll. place:
Alaska
Culture or time period:
Tlingit
Collector:
unknown
Collection date:
unknown
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Carvings (visual works)
Accession date:
1945
Context of use:
A shaman's piece used as a "soul-catcher" when they were curing illnesses supposely resulting from the loss of the patient's soul. They were also used to "blow away" ilness.
Department:
Native US and Canada (except California)
Dimensions:
length 19 centimeters
Comment:
Photo: 15-13606, 13607. Published: "Art of the Northwest Coast Indians" by R.B. Inverarity, fig. 231 (U.C. Press 1950). Exhibited: Centennial Exposition, May 27-September 30, 1967, Fairbanks, Alaska. Illustrated: "The Alaska Native Arts Come Home" by Erna Gunther, Centennial Exposition Catalog, May 27-September 30, 1967, Fairbanks, Alaska, p. 21.
Loans:
S1951-1952 #1: University of California, Los Angeles (March 15, 1952–returned by 1957), S1952-1953 #2: California Palace of the Legion of Honor (dates unknown), S1965-1966 #86a: University Art Museum (UC Berkeley) (May 19, 1966–September 6, 1966), S1966-1967 #89: University of Alaska, Fairbanks (April 17, 1967–October 2, 1967), S1973-1974 #65: Oakland Museum of California (March 8, 1974–April 24, 1974), S1974-1975 #41: Palo Alto Cultural Center (January 6, 1975–March 19, 1975), S1981-1982 #50: Heffernan Films (March 15, 1982–March 23, 1982), S1983-1984 #2: Heffernan Films (July 18, 1983–July 22, 1983), and S1988-1989 #8: Art Gallery (Sonoma State Univ.) (September 7, 1988–October 25, 1988)