Pre-Columbian | Tribal | Ethnographic

The Tlingit people believe that frogs bring good fortune and are spiritual beings. As a result, frogs are common subjects in Tlingit paintings and sculptures. An oval feast dish by Tlingit carver Augustus Bean is featured in the upcoming Pre-Columbian | Tribal | Ethnographic auction, presented by Artemis Gallery. The wooden dish shows two frogs on the interior and a face at each end of the exterior. The rim of the dish is decorated with 12 bean-shaped whale and sea mammal bone inlays.

Another key highlight of the sale is an erotic vessel from the Chavin era. The Chavin civilization created the first major Indigenous culture in Peru. Their artworks often represent their gods and religious beliefs. The present lot is believed to be older than the ceramics of the classic Chavin era. The piece depicts explicit erotic subject matter with a polychrome finish in shades of red, orange, cream, and black. Additional lots include a sculpture of Ai Apaec, a deity in the Mochica culture, holding a human head in one hand and a tumi knife in the other. A Tahitian crown made of white and orange-tipped seashells and a thunderbird totem pole will be presented as well. Browse the entire collection and register to bid online on Bidsquare.