Seal Fetish

Product Description for Seal Fetish

Maker: Tom Sterling (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 2888
** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind **
Item weight: 1.00 oz.
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 seal was carved from moose antler. 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 seal carries a pressure flaked dacite blade (a close cousin of obsidian) tied on in traditional style, suggesting that this would be a hunting object of power.
The seal measures 3" from toe to snout. The blade is 2" long and 2/3" across. It sits .9" high.


Availability: Not currently available