Haida Iron Halibut Hook, with Tale

20th century

iron hook wrapped with twine; length 4-3/4 inches x width 5 inches

Handwritten letter dated 2020:

To Whom It May Concern:

This will certify the provenance of the halibut hook purchased on March 7, 2020.

This hook was found in a halibut of about 60lbs caught by my father Archie Walker fishing the West Coast Troller, "Caspian Sea" on the grounds NW of Cape Scott, V.I. about the year 1950. Its appearance in the fish at the time suggested its presence there for +/- 10 years. There is, of course, no way of knowing how many years it was in use before loss. Similarly, I have no information why this hook in the NW Coast Native style was forged in iron. It is unique in my experience of 70+ years on the coast and considerable other research.

Roger Walker

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

With stand. With a copy of the letter.

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Danica Farnand

Vice President, Head of Department, Native American Art

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Ms. Farnand has helmed the Native American Art department since its inception at Cowan's Auctions in 2003, developing it into one of the most respected and successful departments in the category. Throughout her career, Ms. Farnand has sold over $50 million in Native Art, and has created focused and curated auctions for 19th and 20th century Native works, Jewelry, and Modern and Contemporary Native and Indigenous Arts. A distinguished expert in her field, Ms. Farnand is a respected voice in the ongoing dialogue between Native American tribal groups and the collecting community regarding culturally significant objects, serving as a board member of the Authentic Tribal Art Dealers Association (ATADA) since 2019, and spearheading the effort to return a sacred Ahayu:da wooden figure to its rightful home in the Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico in 2020. She has also been an appraiser on Antiques Roadshow since 2016. Ms. Farnand holds an M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Cincinnati and a B.A. in Art History from John Carroll University.

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Haida Iron Halibut Hook, with Tale

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