Rare élément cérémoniel de chaman ,Quinault,Etat de Washington

Le personnage est représenté debout - les pieds se fondant directement dans la poignée recouverte de tissus -, les flancs creusés, les mains disparaissant dans l'épaisseur des hanches. Au corps résumé à ses lignes essentielles répond le visage puissamment stylisé, le front en visière dominant la face plane, le nez projeté en haut relief - bouche et yeux absents. Patine noire, grumeleuse, brun rouge sur le visage, avec trace de résine au sommet de la tête.

Collection privée, Californie

This piece is in very good original condition with typical wear consistent with its age, including minor surface abrasion. There is a small hairline split in the wood, as evidenced in the illustration.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Les Indiens Quinault habitaient l'actuelle péninsule Olympique de l'état de Washington. Ils vivaient le long de la côte, formant un groupe distinct au sein d'un ensemble plus important de tribus Salish. Leurs power figures, hautement stylisées – comme ici - constituent la forme la plus saisissante de leurs traditions sculpturales.

cf. Holm (1983 : 30) pour une statue comparable, identifiée par l'auteur comme un hochet. "Cette petite statue représente bien plus qu'un hochet. En réalité, sa fonction en tant que hochet est secondaire par rapport à son objectif réel, qui consiste à assister le chaman dans son travail. Plusieurs sculptures comparables sont connues et leur utilisation, tout comme leur signification, partiellement renseignées. Représentant un esprit auxiliaire du chaman, elle est supposée ressembler à l'esprit avec lequel son détenteur entrera en contact, en état de transe. La peinture du visage [...] représente exactement l'esprit tel qu'il est apparu" (idem).
Celle-ci se distingue par sa grande dimension.

cf. Wingert (1949 : 66 et pl. 1-6) pour davantage d'informations sur le style et l'attribution, et pour des exemples comparables conservés au Field Museum, Chicago, et à la Smithsonian Institution, Washington.

A rare Quinault shaman's ceremonial implement, Washington State

The Quinault Indians inhabited what is now the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State, living along the coast, and are a distinct group of people that comprise the larger Salish complex of tribes. The most striking examples of their sculptural traditions are found in their highly stylized 'power figures', as represented in this lot.

For a comparable example, identified as a rattle, see Holm (1983: 30). 'This little figure is much more than a rattle. In fact its function as a rattle is secondary to its real purpose, the giving of assistance to a shaman at work. A number of similar carvings are known and something of their use and signifi­cance recorded. It is a representation of a spirit helper of the shaman, said to look just like that spirit experienced by the owner in a trance. The facial paint­ing [...] are just as the spirit appeared' (ibid.). The power figure offered here is distinguished by its height.

For a further discussion of style and attribution and for illustrations of comparable examples in the Field Museum and the Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., see Wingert (1949: 66 & pl. 1-6).