African, Oceanic & Art of the Americas - 28th April 2022
Lot 1019
A pair of Inuit snow goggles
Estimate £3,000 - £4,000
+ Buyers Premium
Description
A pair of Inuit snow goggles
Arctic
bone of zoomorphic transformation form with a ridged brow and curved eye slits, the sides with attachment holes,
15.2cm wide, on a stand. (2)
cf. The Smithsonian Institute, USNM Number E48996-0 collected by E W Nelson from Sabotnisky, Yukon River, in 1882.
These goggles are carved in the form of an animal mask, probably that of a fox. Arctic foxes have good eyesight for hunting on land and sea ice, a quality that may have been intended to transfer to the owner whilst wearing them.