LOUCHE NUU-CHA-NULTH
A NUU-CHA-NULTH LADLE
LOUCHE NUU-CHA-NULTH
A NUU-CHA-NULTH LADLE
LOUCHE NUU-CHA-NULTH
A NUU-CHA-NULTH LADLE
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LOUCHE NUU-CHA-NULTH
A NUU-CHA-NULTH LADLE
7 More
On occasion, Christie's has a direct financial int… Read more
LOUCHE NUU-CHA-NULTHA NUU-CHA-NULTH LADLE

COLOMBIE-BRITANNIQUE, CANADA

Details
LOUCHE NUU-CHA-NULTH
A NUU-CHA-NULTH LADLE
COLOMBIE-BRITANNIQUE, CANADA
Hauteur : 35.6 cm. (14 in.)
Provenance
Collection Adelaide de Menil, New York
Sotheby's, New York, 4 juin 1997, lot 211
Acquise par l'actuel propriétaire en 1997
Literature
Holm, B. et Reid, W., Form and Freedom: A Dialogue on Northwest Coast Indian Art, Houston, 1975, pp. 74-77, n° 19
Holm, B. et Reid, W., Indian Art of the Northwest Coast: A Dialogue of Craftsmanship and Aesthetics, Houston, 1978, pp. 74-77, n° 19
Exhibited
Houston, Rice University, Institute for the Arts, Form and Freedom: A Dialogue on Northwest Coast Indian Art, 23 octobre 1975 - 25 janvier 1976
Special notice
On occasion, Christie's has a direct financial interest in lots consigned for sale which may include guaranteeing a minimum price or making an advance to the consignor that is secured solely by consigned property. This is such a lot. This indicates both in cases where Christie's holds the financial interest on its own, and in cases where Christie's has financed all or a part of such interest through a third party. Such third parties generally benefit financially if a guaranteed lot is sold successfully and may incur a loss if the sale is not successful. In addition to the regular Buyer’s premium, a commission of 5.5% inclusive of VAT of the hammer price will be charged to the buyer. It will be refunded to the Buyer upon proof of export of the lot outside the European Union within the legal time limit. (Please refer to section VAT refunds)

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Victor Teodorescu
Victor Teodorescu Head of Department

Lot Essay

L’interaction harmonieuse entre beauté et fonction utilitaire fait la quintessence de ce que nous sommes venus à considérer comme les oeuvres d’art les plus accomplies de la côte Nord-Ouest. Alors que les artistes devaient suivre des conventions stylistiques bien précises, afin de respecter à la fois l’usage et l’esthétique, c’est au génie des meilleurs artisans que revient l’honneur de ces créations artistiques uniques. La présente louche en est un exemple parfait.

En bois sculpté, cette louche avec sa riche patine brun foncé apparaît saturée de graisse suite à une forte utilisation. Le cuilleron, ovale, pointu et profond, décoré d’une étroite bande de rainures légèrement creusées et de marques finement incisées à l’intérieur, crée un motif central non identifié en forme d’oeil. Il s’ouvre sur un large manche légèrement convexe.

Dans leur discussion sur cet objet, pour lequel ils consacrent plusieurs pages dans l’ouvrage Indian Art of the Northwest Coast. A Dialogue on Craftsmanship and Aesthetics, Bill Holm et Bill Reid ont souligné la façon singulière dont l’artiste est parvenu à un équilibre subtil entre la forme, l’ornementation et l’utilité de cet objet magnifique.

Beauty, function, and their harmonious interplay are quintessential to what we have come to consider as the most accomplished works of art from the Northwest Coast. While artists had to follow conventionalized patterns to respect both use and aesthetics, it was up to the genius of the best craftsmen to deliver unique artistic creations, of which the present ladle illustrates a splendid example.

The present carved wood ladle with its rich dark brown patina is saturated with grease from extensive use. The deep pointed oval bowl emerges into a broad, slightly convex handle with a narrow band of shallow grooves and finely incised markings in the interior creating an unidentified central "eye" motif.

In their discussion of this object to which they devote several pages in Indian Art of the Northwest Coast. A Dialogue on Craftsmanship and Aesthetics, Bill Holm and Bill Reid highlighted the remarkable way in which the artist achieved a subtle balance between shape, decoration, and utility.

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