Bol avec couvercle ,Tsimshian,Colombie Britannique, Côte nord-ouest

en forme de flétan, les yeux à la pupille percée, les bords et la queue finement incisés de motifs linéaires. Le centre est creusé d'un réceptacle circulaire fermé par un couvercle surmonté d'un pygargue à tête blanche et aux ailes déployées, l'ensemble rehaussé de pigments rouges, verts, noirs et blancs.

Acquis le 26 octobre 1863, à Old Metlakatla, Colombie Britannique, par le Révérend Robert J. Dundas
Transmis par héritage à la famille de Simon Carey, Londres
Sotheby's, New York, octobre 2006, n° 7

The lidded vessel is in very good original condition, with typical wear for its age. The beak of the eagle is broken 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."

Le 26 octobre 1863, alors bien loin de son Écosse natale, le Révérend Robert J. Dundas passa sa matinée à examiner des "objets originaux indiens" à Metlakatla, en Colombie Britannique. Deux siècles plus tard, ces œuvres constituaient "la Collection Dundas" vendue à New York en 2006 (Sotheby's, New York, octobre 2006), parmi laquelle figurait ce bol.

Dans son journal de bord, le Révérend Dundas décrivit à son arrivée la ville de Metlakatla et ses habitants : "cette région constituait autrefois le lieu d'implantation principal des indiens Tsimshian – l'une des plus puissantes et des plus nombreuses tribus de la Côte nord-ouest. Lorsque la H. Bay Co. (Hudson Bay Company) installa son comptoir à Fort Simpson, à environ 16 miles (25,75 km) vers le nord, les Tsimshian y migrèrent – quittant leurs anciens villages de Metlakatlah et s'établissant aux environs du comptoir... Environ 10000 indigènes parlaient le tsimshian ou le comprenaient. Les colonies d'hommes blancs quittèrent l'emplacement – à la seule exception du fort de la H. Bay Co."

Il consigna dans son journal, à la page datée du 26 octobre : "Nous avons passé la matinée à examiner des objets indiens que M. D. [le Père William Duncan] avait rassemblés pour nous. Je tenais, si possible, à obtenir certains des instruments et outils des guérisseurs & des petits 'ictas'".

Certains des objets rassemblés ce matin-là appartenaient vraisemblablement au Chef Legaic, l'un des grands chefs Tsimshian du 19^ème siècle, au sujet duquel Dundas écrivit : "ces indiens m'ont véritablement stupéfait : et notamment un chef que l'on appelle Legaic... Il y a cinq ans et demi de cela, cet homme était le chef sorcier ou guérisseur de la tribu Tsimshian."

Dundas apporta en Écosse les objets qu'il avait acquis le matin du 26 octobre, ainsi que d'autres témoins de la culture autochtone dont il avait fait l'acquisition au cours de son voyage en Colombie britannique. Exposée à Manchester en 1870, cette collection historique rassemblait plus de 80 objets d'art, les plus remarquables d'entre eux comptant parmi les plus belles manifestations de l'art de la Côte nord-ouest.

A Tsimshian lidded bowl, Northwest Coast

On October 26, 1863, far from his native Scotland, the Reverend Robert J Dundas spent his morning examining 'Indian curiosities' on the shores of Metlakatla, British Columbia. Two centuries later, these curiosities, including the offered bowl, would form 'The Dundas Collection', sold in New York in 2006 (Sotheby's, New York, October 2006). In his journal the Reverend Dundas described his arrival in Metlakatla and its inhabitants: '[Metlakatla] was once the chief Settlement of the Tsimsean Indians – one of the most powerful & numerous of the N.W. Coast tribes. When the H. Bay Co [Hudson Bay Company] planted their trading post at Fort Simpson about 16 miles farther north – the Tsimseans (or Chimsayan) migrated there – leaving their old villages at Metlakatlah, & settling down about the trading fort...the Tsimsean language was spoken or understood by about 10,000 natives – the place was removed from white men's settlements – excepting only the Co.'s fort'.

The 'Indian curiosities' which Dundas examined were collected by 'Mr. D. [Father William Duncan] ...I was, if possible, anxious to obtain some of the medicine men's implements & tools, & succeeded in getting some small "ictas"' (ibid.). Some of the items collected that morning probably belonged to Chief Legaic, one of the great Tsimshian leaders of the 19^th century. Dundas wrote of Chief Legaic: 'I was much struck with these Indians: one especially – a Chief, called Legaic...five years & a half ago – when Duncan first went to Fort Simpson, this was the Chief Sorcerer or Medicine Man of the Chimpsean tribe'.

Dundas returned to Scotland with the 'curiosities' he had acquired on the morning of October 26, along with other examples of native material acquired during his trip to British Columbia. Selected works from Dundas' collection of more than 80 objects were exhibited in Manchester in 1870. The Dundas collection included some of the most beautiful examples of Northwest Coast art.