California Curiosities, Chumash Whale Effigies

early 20th century

lot of 2, both carved of a dark hardstone and inlaid with shell accents

height 3 inches x length 3-3/8 inches x width 2-1/8 inches AND height 3-1/4 inches x length 3-1/8 inches x width 2-1/4 inches

PUBLISHED:

Native American Heritage. Exhibition Catalogue, The Art Institute of Chicago (1977: pg 271, catalogue #383).

These pipes, commonly identified as Chumash, have been published in a Heye Foundation manuscript by E.K. Burnett entitled, "Inlaid Stone and Bone Artifacts from Southern California" (Contributions from the Museum of the American Indian Heye Foundation, Vol. XIII, 1944). There have been questions and controversy as to the authenticity of this type of artifact, with the belief that the entire manuscript by E.K. Burnett was fabricated to create a market for these objects.

[http://themalibupost.blogspot.com/2013/11/to-point.html. Accessed August 23, 2017; King, Chester: Evolution of Chumash Society (1990:122)].

Property from a Private Collection, Chicago, Illinois

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

To request further details about this lot, please email [email protected]

Please contact the Auction Specialist for details.

Danica Farnand

Vice President, Head of Department, Native American Art

[email protected]513.666.4935

Ms. Farnand has helmed the Native American Art department since its inception at Cowan's Auctions in 2003, developing it into one of the most respected and successful departments in the category. Throughout her career, Ms. Farnand has sold over $50 million in Native Art, and has created focused and curated auctions for 19th and 20th century Native works, Jewelry, and Modern and Contemporary Native and Indigenous Arts. A distinguished expert in her field, Ms. Farnand is a respected voice in the ongoing dialogue between Native American tribal groups and the collecting community regarding culturally significant objects, serving as a board member of the Authentic Tribal Art Dealers Association (ATADA) since 2019, and spearheading the effort to return a sacred Ahayu:da wooden figure to its rightful home in the Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico in 2020. She has also been an appraiser on Antiques Roadshow since 2016. Ms. Farnand holds an M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Cincinnati and a B.A. in Art History from John Carroll University.

Erin Rust

Associate Vice President, Specialist, Native American Art

[email protected]513.666.4947

Erin Rust is a specialist in the Native American, Prehistoric & Tribal Art department at Hindman.
Ms. Rust began as a specialist in Native American Art and Artifacts at Cowan’s Auctions in 2017, with a focus on Native jewelry and Midwestern prehistoric artifacts. She has also worked on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana and on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Ms. Rust holds a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design with a minor in History, concentrating in Native Studies, from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ms. Rust also appears on the top-rated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

Native American Art, Session I

California Curiosities, Chumash Whale Effigies

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