Lot Essay
Nootkan canoes were designed for use on the Western coast of Vancouver Island. They were often employed for whale and seal hunting.
Details
A NOOTKAN CANOE MODEL
Of classic canoe form, with protruding prow with "ears" and "snout" resembling an animal's head, carrying two seated hunters, one in the bow with a harpoon the other in the stern paddling, each with mask-like faces, eyes inset with beads, two seals, one captured seal on the floor of canoe and another carved separately, details painted in black and orange, carved from a single piece of wood
24¾in. (62.9cm.) long
Of classic canoe form, with protruding prow with "ears" and "snout" resembling an animal's head, carrying two seated hunters, one in the bow with a harpoon the other in the stern paddling, each with mask-like faces, eyes inset with beads, two seals, one captured seal on the floor of canoe and another carved separately, details painted in black and orange, carved from a single piece of wood
24¾in. (62.9cm.) long
Provenance
Sotheby's New York, May 23, 1995, lot 235