Bol en corne de mouflon ,Haïda,Colombie Britannique, Côte nord-ouest

de forme très évasée, sculpté en champlevé d'un double emblème clanique représentant un faucon - bouche aux commissures abaissées, bec crochu et grands yeux en amande, les sourcils cannelés et incurvés – orné de motifs curvilinéaires classiques, finement incisés. Belle patine miel.

Collection Jerrie Vander Houwen, Yakima, Washington
Collection privée, New York

The bowl is in very good original condition, with a rich, honeyed patina.
"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."

cf. Holm (1984: 77), pour un bol de forme et d'iconographie très comparables, dans la collection John H. Hauberg. L'oiseau y est identifié par l'auteur comme un "siffleur doré", considéré comme l'une des créatures les plus puissantes de la mythologie de la Côte nord-ouest.

Lors des potlatchs, une attention particulière était portée aux plats et ustensils utilisés. Ornés d'emblèmes héraldiques – ici un double faucon - transmis par les générations passées, ils symbolisaient la haute position héréditaire. "La taille et la somptuosité de chaque plat révélait d'une part le rang de l'invité qui s'en servait et d'autre part la capacité de l'hôte à impressionner ses convives. Chaque invité se voyant remettre un plat en fonction de son rang, le maître de cérémonie appelait les noms des plats et contait le récit ancestral qui leur était associé" (Sturtevant, 1974: 16-19).

A Haida mountain sheep horn bowl, British Columbia, Northwest Coast

cf. Holm, (1983: 77) for an example of very similar form and iconography in the collection of John H. Hauberg. Holm identifies the bird there as a thunderbird, considered to be one of the most powerful creatures in Northwest Coast mythology.

During a potlatch great attention was paid to the dishes used. Covered with family crests (such as the double falcon of the offered example) which were handed down by previous generations, containers were signs of high hereditary position. 'Moreover, the size and lavishness of each container corresponded to the rank of the guest who used it and to the ability of the host to impress his guests. As each guest was given a dish in order of his rank, the speaker called out the names of the dishes and the corresponding ancestral history' (Sturtevant, 1974: 16-19).