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Exhibition History"Art Des Indiens D'Amerique Du Nord Dans La Collection D'Eugene Thaw," Mona Bismarck Foundation, Paris, France, Somogy Editions D'Art, January 21, 2000 - March 18, 2000.
"Treasures from the Thaw Collection," Wheelwright Museum of American Indian Art. Santa Fe, NM, May 1, 2000 - December 31, 2000.
ProvenanceBlade provenance: Shadusixt; Chief Shakes, Wrangell, Alaska.
Dagger provenance: Member of Nanya.ayi clan, Wrangell, Alaska; Sam Jackson's grandfather and later Sam Jackson's uncle, Klukwan, Alaska; Sheldon Kodenaha Family, Klukwan, Alaska; Maggie Kodenaha; Axel Rasmussen (1093), Skagway, Alaska, c. 1932; Robert Tyler Davis, Lillydale, New York; Sotheby's Parke Bernet, New York City, 1979, lot 332; Private collection, New Jersey; Sotheby's Parke Bernet, New York City, 1981, lot 350; Stefan Edlis, Chicago, Illinois
BibliographyDavis, Robert Tyler. Native Arts of the Pacific Northwest from the Rasmussen Collection in the Portland Art Museum. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1949, fig.29 & (entry) pp.139-140.
Sotheby Parke Bernet. 21 April 1979, Sale 4237, lot 332, Robert Tyler Davis.
Sotheby Parke Bernet 25 April 1981, Sale 4586Y, lot 350.
Perriot, Francoise, and Slim Batteux, Arts des Indiens d'Amerique du Nord: dans la Collection d'Eugene et Clare Thaw. Paris, somogy edition d'Art, 1999, p. 133, fig. 108.
Vincent, Gilbert et al. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2000, p.374.
Fognell, Eva and Alexander Brier Marr, eds. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection at the Fenimore Art Museum, 2nd ed. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2016, p. 415.
Culture
Tlingit
Dagger
Date1800-1850
DimensionsOverall: 14 7/8 × 2 5/8 in. (37.8 × 6.7 cm)
Object numberT0202
Credit LineLoan from the Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw Charitable Trust
Photograph by John Bigelow Taylor, NYC
Label TextThe name of this dagger, “Swimming-Across-Wolf-Knife,” may have been acquired from its second owner. He is said to have commissioned the carving of a wolf’s head. Its jaw is raised as if swimming through water and the blue abalone shell eyes, ears, nostrils, and teeth also suggests the water’s reflection. Blood stains on the leather thong are a grim reminder of the dagger’s history.Exhibition History"Art Des Indiens D'Amerique Du Nord Dans La Collection D'Eugene Thaw," Mona Bismarck Foundation, Paris, France, Somogy Editions D'Art, January 21, 2000 - March 18, 2000.
"Treasures from the Thaw Collection," Wheelwright Museum of American Indian Art. Santa Fe, NM, May 1, 2000 - December 31, 2000.
ProvenanceBlade provenance: Shadusixt; Chief Shakes, Wrangell, Alaska.
Dagger provenance: Member of Nanya.ayi clan, Wrangell, Alaska; Sam Jackson's grandfather and later Sam Jackson's uncle, Klukwan, Alaska; Sheldon Kodenaha Family, Klukwan, Alaska; Maggie Kodenaha; Axel Rasmussen (1093), Skagway, Alaska, c. 1932; Robert Tyler Davis, Lillydale, New York; Sotheby's Parke Bernet, New York City, 1979, lot 332; Private collection, New Jersey; Sotheby's Parke Bernet, New York City, 1981, lot 350; Stefan Edlis, Chicago, Illinois
BibliographyDavis, Robert Tyler. Native Arts of the Pacific Northwest from the Rasmussen Collection in the Portland Art Museum. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1949, fig.29 & (entry) pp.139-140.
Sotheby Parke Bernet. 21 April 1979, Sale 4237, lot 332, Robert Tyler Davis.
Sotheby Parke Bernet 25 April 1981, Sale 4586Y, lot 350.
Perriot, Francoise, and Slim Batteux, Arts des Indiens d'Amerique du Nord: dans la Collection d'Eugene et Clare Thaw. Paris, somogy edition d'Art, 1999, p. 133, fig. 108.
Vincent, Gilbert et al. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2000, p.374.
Fognell, Eva and Alexander Brier Marr, eds. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection at the Fenimore Art Museum, 2nd ed. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2016, p. 415.
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