SMALL 18TH C. ESKIMO CARVED GAME BOX W/ BONE FISH

Origin:  Canadian Arctic and Sub-arctic, Inuit People     (Provenance:  found in an old collection of Eskimo pieces in Bellevue Washington)

Period/Date: Box 18th century, Bone fish late 19th- Early 20th Century

Materials:  Hardwood (maple?), Copper, Bone, red pigments

Description:  This is one of two child's game box set that I acquired from this old collection.  I kept this one for myself for sometime before deciding to sell it.   What's fascinating about this set is the carved wood box is actually an early American "Shot Box" used to hold lead balls.  It is beautifully and sensitively carved in the old folk style of the period featuring various game like Quail, Partridge and fox!  The bottom is even carved with "hearts" motifs.  While the box itself is from New England like maybe Pennsylvania(?), it was traded very early on possibly during the fur trade.   It is well used and appears to have its original hammered copper sliding lid.   I'm assuming this was a "toy set" but I'm not ruling out they are hunting charms used on canoe voyages to magically multiply a catch.

Dimensions:   (Box) Length 3.25"  (8 cm), Width 2.25"  (5.5 cm), (Bone Fish)  Length 2"  (5 cm), Width .5" (1.5 cm)

Price: SOLD       

BOTTOM