Y TWELVE ESKIMO AMULETIC HUNTING TOGGLES OR PENDANTS INUIT/B...

Hammer

£650

Y TWELVE ESKIMO AMULETIC HUNTING TOGGLES OR PENDANTS INUIT/BERING SEA, 18TH CENTURY OR EARLIER Walrus ivory with creamy patina max: 6cm long, min: 2cm long Provenance: Ex Summerfield collection. Bruton Knowles Auction Rooms, circa autumn 1989 Ex Private collection Mr Summerfield was a book dealer / collector in Sold Cheltenham, England. When he passed away the shop and home above, housing the contents of the collection were so numerous, an enormous quantity of boxes, items stacked one upon another, the sorting and dispersal took many weeks, with auctions divided between Christie's (at the local race course) and Bruton Knowles Auction Rooms, auctions took place over a number of weeks. Ivory amulets were made by shamans and individual hunters for supernatural aid and protection. They were passed down through families as treasured heirlooms and were used to influence a tutelary or helping spirit. These small sculptures were so important to the beliefs of the community that nothing could be accomplished without their help.

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