Humpback Whale Fetish

Product Description for Humpback Whale Fetish

Maker: Tom Sterling (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 2893
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 2.60 in.
Blade height (at heel): 0.70 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.18 in.
Item weight: 0.56 oz.
Blade: Pressure flaked blade of extremely high quality transparent 'peach' obsidian
Description: Tom Sterling is internationally known as a netsuke artist, bringing the attention to detail he learned from the precision work of carving small sculptural objects, or toggles, usually worn to suspend objects hung from the sash of the kimono. Recently, he decided that it would be a fun project to make a series of fetishes, incorporating the animal figures common to netsuke with the knapped blades created by Joe Higgins, who has been flint knapping knives for over 10 years. These fetishes are spectacular.
A detailed and lifelike humpback whale was carved Pacific Coast yew. The eyes are inlaid with black horn and appear to be looking out. Similar to historic Native American fetishes, this is an unusual fusion of Southwest Native American style and Northwest Native American subject matter. The whale carries a pressure flaked 'peach' obsidian blade tied on in traditional style, suggesting that this would be a hunting object of power.
The whale measures 3" from tail to snout and is 1 1/2" across. It stands 1/1/4" tall on an anchor carved from American black walnut. The blade is 2 1/3" long and .7" across.


Availability: Not currently available