Collection 4000
4001
Birch Bark Canoe Model
Length 41” x 10 ½” deep x 12” W. Fantastic museum piece! Imbrication and etching along both gunnel sides and ends. Was acquired from Lac du Flambeau Reservation in Wisconsin in May of 1913. This piece was in the John Short Museum, Fresno, CA until I purchased it in 2002. Wonderful craftsmanship and a work of art. Near perfect condition and great patina. Very rare!
Circa 1913.
($9,700)
4002
Birch Bark Model Canoe
18 ¾” long. Porcupine quill work (4 on one side and 1 on opposite side). Old and in great condition. Nice patina.
Circa late 1800’s/early 1900’s.
($650)
4003
Birch Bark Model Canoe with Fantastic Quill Work
Length 12 ½”. Small in size but loaded with artistic touches. Well designed and executed floral pattern quill work done on both sides. Color scheme of stained porcupine quills comprised of green, yellow and white/lavender. Split spruce root lashings along gunnel sides but also holds decorative bark scallops. Most of quilled work intact but a few are missing (hardly noticeable). One small crack in bark on one end. Extremely rare and unique!
Circa 1920.
($1,950)
4004
Birch Bark Model Canoe
24” Long x 5” W. Great early canoe with good patina and wonderful condition. Made with cedar slats and spruce root lashings.
Circa 1900.
($700)
4005
Abenaki Indian Made Model Canoe
60” Long x 8” W. Made by Aaron York, an Abenaki Indian, who used a canoe from the Malecite Tribe (eastern Abenaki) called a St. John River Canoe, as a model. Incredible imbrication and beautiful design. Gunnel rail attached with wooden pegs. Split spruce root used throughout. Hand carved decorative struts.
Circa late 1900’s.
($2,100)
4006
Fabulous Birch Bark Model Canoe
47” Long x 9” W. Made by Henry Vailancourt, one of the most renowned birch bark canoe experts in the country. Extremely fine with red painted fern motifs in front and rear sections. Split spruce root for lashings and wooden pegged gunnel rails. This is an incredible work of art that showcases his talent. Certainly one of a kind! Fine condition.
Circa 1979
($2,150)
4007
Birch Bark “Long Nose” Model Canoe
38” Long x 5 ¾” w. Made by Kootenai Indian tribe in British Columbia, Canada in 1900. This canoe was in a museum for many years. Included two hand carved paddles. Birch bark trim along both gun whales. Both ends (nose) have two hand carved poles of cedar with heavy applications of pitch resin sealant on each. Very rare and a great piece.
Circa 1900.
($1,000)
4008
Heavily Quilled Birch Bark Model Canoe
20” Long x 4 ½” W. The canoe is made in the style of the Fur Trade Canoe. Beautifully made quill work designs stained in light green, red, lavender, white (light grey) and black. The flower motif is similar on both sides but substantially different in detail. Indian made and signed at bottom “S.yLz” Very fine work and quite rare. Some quills and stitching missing.
Circa late 1800’s.
($1,050)
4009
Eastern Elm Bark Model Canoe – Very Old
34 ½” Long x 8”W. Very unique and rare! Canoe is Indian made of Elm tree bark with the bark on the outside. Gunwales are wrapped with a thin bark wrap as well as the end seams. Very difficult to find.
Circa late 1800’s/early 1900’s.
($550)
4010
Eastern Elm Bark Model Canoe – Very Old
21” Long x 7” W. This canoe model has an oval strip of wood that is all connected by nails through gunwales and wood strip. Elm bark is all one piece nailed together. A unique piece in any collection.
Circa late 1800’s.
($200)
4011
Full Size Indian Made Original Birch Bark Canoe – Circa 1870
15’3” Long x 39” W. One of the rarest full size Indian made birch bark canoes left in existence! Only a small handful of these survived the turn of the century (1800-1900). This canoe was made by the Ojibwa Indians around 1870 near Cass Lake, northern Minnesota. This canoe came from the Collection of the “Great Lakes Fur Trade Museum” in Two Harbors, MN. It is authentic in every way: Floor and slats handmade of cedar, split spruce roots for lashing, real handmade pitch resin for sealant and five cedar handmade struts lashed to each side. Has a 1” x 3” hole in upper rear panel (can be repaired). The rarest of the rare! And…what a showpiece!
Circa 1870.
4011
Full Size Indian Made Original Birch Bark Canoe – Circa 1870
4012
Indian Made Imbricated Model Birch Bark Canoe
34” Long x 6” W. Well made with several imbricated figures: Turtles (2), Coyotes (2), Eagle bust, Indian Chief Bust, Whale tails (6) and plant images. It’s also “signed” “Thierry Dube” and “Nation Atikamek”. Great piece!
Circa early to mid-1900’s.
4013
Kayak Style Birch Bark Model Canoe
14” long. Marked “Quebec” on top. Oval opening in top center with bark top. Great condition.
Circa 1900’s.
($200)
4014
Indian Made Imbricated Model Birch Bark Canoe
52” Long x 10” W. Well-made canoe with several imbricated images. One entire side with leaf motif, Indian Chief Bust and four leaf clover, other side is the same. Classic style and excellent construction. Very Striking!
Circa early to mid-1900’s.
($1,100)
4015
Heavily Quilled Indian Made Birch Bark Model Canoe
25” Long x 8” W. Quill work designs similar on both sides but also some differences. Very bright colorful palette with several similar colors used on both sides. Still looks great but missing some stitching and quills. Rare to see so much quill work on one canoe!
Circa late-1800’s/early 1900’s.
($650)
4018
Miniature Birch Bark Canoe – Ojibwa Handmade Model
14 ½” Long. Made by Ojibwa tribe for trade. Has quill work designs on both sides, a pair of hand carved wooden paddles and a sturdy handmade twig stand. Great eye appeal!
Circa mid 1900’s.
($150)
4019
Tiny Birch Bark Canoes with Sweet Grass Trim
Very well made considering they are 4” long. All of the edges have thread wrapped strands of Sweet Grass. Looks unique and striking in any collection.
Circa mid 1900’s.
($200)
4020
Wall hanging Birch Bark Model Canoe
20” Long x 7” tall. Simply made but well-constructed, with split Spruce root and root wrapped wire hanger. Great patina, very old and unique. May have been designed to hold mail or other small items.
Circa late 1800’s/early 1900’s.
($600)
4021
Wall hanging Birch Bark Model Canoe
9 ½” Long x 4 ½” tall. Similar to #4020, only smaller. Split Spruce root wrapped on all edges and wrapped over on both ends... rare and very old with a beautiful patina of rich sienna/golden brown.
Circa late 1800’s/early 1900’s.
($550)
4022
Great Northwest Birch Bark Model Canoe – A stunner!
37” Long x 9” W. Both gunnels painted light green on sides with leather strip on top. All five struts are uniquely carved and have green and red lined designs that match colors elsewhere on the canoe. One side has five original native paintings that were meaningful to the artists. Great color harmony overall by an artist that was very talented. Painted on one side only except for green gunnel. Great condition, extraordinary piece!
Circa 1910-1920.
($1,950)
4023
Very Old Hand Forged Oval Wooden Box
19” Long x 14 ½” W x 8” tall. Rare handmade wooden box made in mid-1800. Touches of red can be seen as this box was painted red at one time. Hand forged metal straps, top handle and key plate are attached by square headed nails. All wood connecting done with handmade wooden pegs. Fabulous patina. Very hard to find such workmanship in the mid 1800’s! Key still in lock.
($1,000)
4024
Fabulous Birch Bark Canoe with Elaborate Incising
10’ Long x 20” Wide. This is one of the finest birch bark canoes I’ve ever seen! It was made by an Abenaki Indian, Aaron York in 1998 for Dick Idol. Many experts believe the early western Abenaki and the Penobscot Abenaki created some of the finest bark canoes ever made. This canoe is totally capable of navigation on water but is considered smaller than full size, which is 12’ to 14” or more. It is truly a work of art in every way. This is “winter” bark collected by Aaron York himself because it lends itself to incising better than bark from any other season. Incising or imbrication images are attained by removing bark to attain another color, usually darker. These designs are historically founded in Abenaki culture and York considers himself a “Canoe Artist in the Abenaki Way”. Real handmade resin pitch was used as a sealant for any seams, ribs and floor handmade from split cedar, struts are hand carved with various designs and a strip of scalloped bark comes downward from the gunwales. This masterpiece is truly a one-of-a-kind birch bark canoe.
4025
Rare Northwest Coast Carved and Painted Alder Canoe
38” Long x 7 ¼” W. Extremely old, carved from one Alder log. Painted palette of red, black and light green with ceremonial Sisiutl design. Painted symbols on both outer walls and on both inside walls. Very good condition.
Circa 1880.
($3,700)
4027
Birch Bark Ojibwa Made Model Canoe
34 ½” Long x 7 ½” W. Made like the larger originals often used throughout the fur trade era. Has a striking gunwale strip/apron painted along lower edge with red/orange ochre. Wood strips on gunwales attached with wooden pegs. Nice patina that shows substantial age. Complete with two hand carved paddles.
Circa late 1800’s.
($700)
4028
Northwest Coastal Indian Made Ceremonial Paddle
53” Long x 6” W. One side has full carving with inlaid jade pendant. Opposite side has a whale carving with a face. This is extremely fine work by a master carver.
Circa late 1800’s/early 1900’s.
($900)
4029/4030
Matched Pair of Northwest Coastal Carved Ceremonial Paddles
66” Long x 4 ½” W. Both paddles with Bas Relief carvings and nearly identical. Great unique handle designs. Designs and carvings were created by an Indian master carver! Wonderful patina and fine condition.
Circa late 1800’s/early 1900’s.
($1,200 for pair)
4031
Very Old Classic Shaped Canoe Paddle
64” Long x 4 ½” W. Beautiful dark/rich patina for a very old paddle. Crack in wide blade –in-use repaired with staples and small crack just below.
Circa late 1800’s.
($350)
4032
Old Northwest Coast Indian Carved Ceremonial Paddle
51” Long x 5” W. This is a wonderful rare piece. Fabulous Bas Relief designs on both sides (nearly identical) and has a very unique carved handle. Patina has a warm “Walnut” look which comes from age. This is as good as they come!
Circa mid to late 1800’s.
($1,600)
4033
Small Northwest Coast Carved Ceremonial Paddle
24 ½” Long x 4” W. Has a warm dark brown/black patina and shows some in-use wear. Show side fully carved with Indian symbols, backside simply “SITKA”. Obviously this paddle is from Sitka, Alaska and made by Alaskan natives.
Circa late 1800’s/early 1900’s.
($1,100)
4034
Small Northwest Coast Carved and Painted “Dance Paddle”
24” Long x 4” W. Carved on only one side. Beautiful paint colors of red, black, jade green and burgundy. Old with great patina. Wonderful impressive piece that’s very rare.
Circa 1910.
($1,850)
4035
Small Northwest Coast Ceremonial Carved Paddle
25” Long x 5” W. Carved on one side only. Image is of abstract whale design with red, black and blue paint. Older dark patina. Great example!
Circa 1900.
($650)
4036/4037
Pair of Alaska made Ceremonial Etched Paddles
26” & 27” Long x 4 ½” & 3 ½” W. Matching pairs with carved and etched images on each side of each paddle. Images different on each paddle with bear/seal, Indian with drum, eagle and wolf. No. 4037 etching that reads “Haines Alaska, June 17, 1904”. Unusual holes in each handle with star design around each. Highly likely these were done by the same artist. Rare and unusual!
Circa 1904.
($1,000)
4038
Small Ceremonial Northwest Paddle with Carving
13 ½” Long x 2 ½” w. Abstract whale design on one side and no artwork on the other. Great piece with fine carving/bas relief. From Sitka, Alaska.
Circa late 1800’s/early 1900’s
($250)
4039
Small Ceremonial Northwest Paddle with Carving
16” Long x 2 ½ “W. Abstract whale design on one side and no artwork on the other. Great piece with fine carving/bas relief. From Sitka, Alaska.
Circa late 1800’s/early 1900’s.
($250)
4040
Child- size Well- Used Paddle
39 ½” Long x 4” W. Very old with wonderful patina. Excellent condition. Very rare! Round handle.
Circa late 1800’s.
($850)
4044
Fur Trade Workhorse Paddle
71” Long x 8” W. This style used by French voyagers, trappers, Indians, explorers etc. Long narrow stem with wide paddle area. Tested for many centuries. Unusual upper handle shape that is round. Crack in wide end. Excellent example for this style. Beautiful patina.
Circa late 1800’s.
($700)
4045
Fur Trade Paddle (see 4044 above)
71” Long x 8” W. Very similar to each other except this paddle has a square handle. Near perfect condition with a reddish brown patina. Rare and hard to find in this condition.
Circa late 1800’s.
($1,000)
4046
Very Old Moose Call made from Birch Bark
Height 24 ½”, 8” W at the big end. Incised with standing bears around large open end. Well used but in great condition. One of the best moose calls I have ever seen. Some wooden pegs used to hold wrapped bark together, an indication of its age.
Circa 1800’s.
($700)
4047
Very Early Birch Bark Basket
Height 11 ½” x 12” top rim width. Outer tree bark is reversed (white bark out). Rim top is rope and wood. Bottom is wood with some holes. Bark is still great looking. Came from the closed Great Lakes Fur Trade Museum in MN. Nice Piece.
Circa late 1800’s/early 1900’s
($300)
4048
Fully Quilled Red/White Basket
4 ¼” W x 2” Tall. Everything showing is made of quills including the bottom and on an “all quill” ball on top.
Circa late 1800’s/early 1900’s.
($300)
4049
Quilled Birch Bark Basket
Height 3 ½”x 3 ½” W. Yellow and white quills including a maple leaf on lid and well done designs around center. Has “Sept 12, 1931” written on bottom. Cree Indian tourist item. Very fine work, wrapped with a great deal of Sweet Grass.
($200)
4050
Quilled Birch Bark Basket Trimmed with Sweet Grass
Height 2 ½” x 5” W. Very rare! A few quills are missing but otherwise in great condition. Inside basket is all birch bark.
Circa early 1900’s.
($600)
4051
Quilled Birch Bark Basket
Height 3” x 6” W. Lid with sides are all covered with red/white quills. Lid with a floral design. Done by Chippewa tribe in late 1800’s.
($600)
4052
Porcupine Quilled Birch Bark Box
Height 3 ½ “x 8” w. Extraordinary fine work. This piece has it all! Blue Jay design with violet, blue, white, green and brown. Inside box is all bark with bark scallops in top and bottom. Indian made in the Northwest in 1945. Mint condition. Entire basket covered with quills and Sweet Grass.
($2,850)
4053
Birch Bark Cylindrical Container
Height 10” x 6” Dia. Rare design with split spruce root wrapped lid, bottom edge and decorative patch with tufted moose hair. Scalloped edge near lid and decorative patch. Wonderful dark patina. Great condition.
Circa late 1800’s.
($300)
4054
Rare Birch Bark Tobacco/Snuff Box
4” Tall x 5” W. Boxes like this have been used since the 1700’s for storing tobacco and snuff. Made from different layers of birch bark. Has wooden plugs on top and bottom. Still has some tobacco caked inside.
Circa 1890.
($300)
4055
Lillooet Covered Trinket Basket
Height 5 ½” x 9” L x 5” deep. Made by northwest natives with brain tanned leather, all handmade. Woven designs on all four sides. Front and rear sides have two different woven designs on either side of main design. Wonderful workmanship and hard to find in this condition.
Circa late 1800’s/early 1900’S.
($650)
4056
Thompson River Imbricated Potlach Spoon Tray
Height 4 ½” x 13 ½” x 9”. Made by Northwest coast natives who make some of the finest basketry in the country. This fine tray has geometric woven designs plus some other artwork along top and bottom edges. Great condition with a very attractive woven handle.
Circa 1940.
($450)
4057
Very Fine Birch Bark and Root Basket
Height 9” x 10 ½” W x 8 ½” deep. Native made by Northwest tribes with brain tanned leather. Lid and upper rim woven from split root and stained to create a very attractive design. Heart shaped bark pieces have been stitched to lid with further stitched designs on both ends. Especially unique and well made.
Circa early 1900’s.
($700)
4058
Old Currie Knitting Basket with Handles
Height 9 ½” x 11 ½” Dia. Great geometric designs on body of basket made of reed strips stained to create striking patterns. Fair condition. From northwest coast natives.
Circa 1930.
($350)
4059
Very Unusual Basket Made of Birch Bark and Spruce Root
Height 5 ½”, lid width 17”, 15” W. Lid is made from one piece of bark with eight bark “leaves” woven in center. Basket rim woven of split roots stained red, green, orange and browns. Brain tanned leather serves as “hinges” to hold the lid in place. Partially repaired with one strand of newer leather. Great eye appeal on this basket and very well constructed. Rare. From Northwest Canada.
Circa early 1900’s.
($750)
4060
Well Designed Birch Bark Basket
Height 6 ½ “, 14” W, 9” Deep. This piece has a bark strip around its middle with scalloped edges and the top has a repeated pattern. From Pacific Northwest Territories, this basket is in good condition. Very attractive basket.
Circa 1910
($500)
4062
Fine Old 19th C. Imbricated Lillooet Carry Basket
Height 8”, 15” wide, 8 ½” deep. Extremely well made and in near perfect condition. Four woven loops for straps and woven geometric patterns on all sides make this carry basket a great piece. Native made in the Pacific Northwest region.
Circa 1890.
($650)
4063
Very Old Miniature Trunk with Brass tacks on Skin
Height 4 ½”, 7” W, 5” Deep. Lock box with key that still works. Brass handle and close to one hundred brass tacks. Sides and top covered with seal skin- hair out. Good condition except skin is cracked across the portion in the rear skin that served as hinges for the top. Used for valuables, documents, etc. Great hardware. Rare trunk covered on the inside with decorative colonial paper with blue dots.
Circa 1810.
($250)
4064
Octagon Shaped Document Box
Height 10 ½” x 20 ½”L x 10 ½” deep. Very rare and old.
Came from a ranch near Cody, WY. Great box with cowhide cover on ends and visible seven sides. Brass studs were used to mark “S.S” with oval shape around letters made of decorative leather and brass studs. Rare decorative handles on both ends and a very unique looking mechanism that has a small flat bar which keeps the lid closed. Underneath the bar is a keyhole but no key. Inside is covered with decorative flowered paper on top of old newspapers. I found a small portion of legible newspaper that had the date of 1827. It is in fair condition considering its age and usage.
Circa 1827.
($650)
4065
Rounded top Studded Document Box
Height 5” x 12” W x 7 ½” Deep. Beautiful reddish brown patina and in great condition.
Brass keyhole, no key and brass swivel ring on top. Brass studs on all sides which define multiple attractive patterns. Yellow clover and brown paper design inside. The entire box is wrapped with a fine grade of leather. This is a great box!
Circa 1820.
($850)
4066
Very Old Brass Tacked Hide Covered Document Box
Height 4 ½” x 9” W x 5 ½” deep. A beautiful and striking example of a very old box. All visible sides are hide covered and brass tacked. The main design comes from red, black and brown narrow leather strips with brass studs. Hand forged brass handle on top and lid latch are rare and handmade. Grey/green paper on inside. Near perfect condition. This type of box is extremely rare.
Circa 1800.
($550)
4067
Very Old Brass Tacked Hide Covered Document Box
Height 7” x 16”W x 9” Deep. Covered with cowhide on all sides except the bottom and backside. Numerous leather strips of green and red, each dotted with brass studs define the overall design. Brass handle on top and a hand forged latch are both very unusual. The entire inside of the box is covered with newspaper glued to the wood. This paper is the Columbian Centinel from Boston, MA dated March 28, 1812. Fascinating reading! Wonderful artistry on a one of a kind document box.
Circa 1812. Good condition.
($500)
4068
Brass Tacked Black Hide Covered Cassette Box
Height 5” x 10” W x 6 ½” deep. In Colonial and fur trade times, most important gentlemen had special trunks to hold important documents and belongings. This box is one of the best. The lock plate is complete and still has the original key. Best of all, it is stamped with the very desirable Federal Eagle design on the brass cover plate of the keyhole. The inside is immaculate with insert shelf. Contains 213 square shanked brass tacks. The bottom is decorated with great blue and brown designed paper from Colonial times. Small amount of leather missing from handle on lid, otherwise in excellent condition. Very hard to find boxes like this one!
Circa pre-1800’s.
($500)
4069
Early Hide Covered and Brass Tacked Cassette Document Box
Height 5”, 12” wide x 7” deep. Black leather with 141 square shanked brass tacks. It has the original makers tag on inside of lid, “John Shelton Saddle and Trunk Maker, Congress 45 Street, Boston”. Inside is lined with marbleized paper. The original lock is still intact and brass key cover plate is stamped with the word “Patent”. There is a brass opening ring on the lid. Very rare and old!
Circa late 1700’s/early 1800’s.
($750)
4070
Black Tacked Trunk with Cushion Compartment
Height 12” x 25” L x 13” Deep. This is a very rare trunk! Very old brass tacked hide covered trunk with storage compartment built on its top. Travelers, whether aboard a wagon, carriage or stagecoach often used these for travel. Inside the lid is an 8” square panel that opens inward to access the compartment which is about 2-3 inches deep. Clothes or other soft goods were stuffed into this compartment which provided a comfortable seat for long, rough journeys and would allow more luggage space. Rigid wood was used in the top of the trunk so as to bear the weight of the traveler. This trunk is covered entirely in leather and has brass tacks on all sides. Unfortunately, this trunk was damaged in shipping. The primary damage is the leather hinging on the lid has cracked and the lid is detached but will rest in its normal position. Also damaged was the latch assembly and its attaching strap. This trunk when intact was worth $2,000 plus. It could be restored but I have decided to sell it at a huge discount “as is”.
Circa late 1700’s/early 1800’s.
($250)
4071
Hide Covered and Brass Tacked Document Box
Height 4 ½” x 10” W x 6” Deep. Brass tacked on leather strips on both ends, top and front. Hide is wrapped on every side except bottom. Brass carrying handle on top and brass lock plate, both very unique. Entire inside of box covered in glued on paper with floral design. Narrative appears to be religious in nature. Nice box, fair condition for its age.
Circa 1800
($200)
4072
Very Old Handmade and Hand forged Oak Box
Height 9” x 14”W x 9 ½” Deep. Obviously well used but in good condition. All sides, except the bottom, show fabulous metal works that are all hand forded including the inside lock itself. Very old and rare. Wonderful reddish brown patina. Nearly impossible to find.
Circa late 1700’s/early 1800’s
($300)