Highly Carved Walrus Tusk, C.1925, 23"L

Lot description

Exceptional Inuit highly carved walrus tusk, c.1925, depicting more than 50 intertwined animals including seals, walrus, fish, arctic fox, crane, bear, some are three dimensional, black and red highlights at faces, paws and flippers, approx 23.25"l, 3.25"w, 4.25lbs Provenance: From the estate of Leonie von Meusebach?Zesch (1882-1944), an early female dentist who practiced in Texas, Arizona, California and who lived in Alaska 1915-1930. She was a dental surgeon for the U.S. Army following the1906 San Francisco earthquake and practiced dentistry in Arizona on the Hopi and Navajo reservations, the camps of the Civilian Conversation Corps, and even in a California prison form women. The photo portrait (not included in sale) was taken in 1902, the other photo of Leonie and walrus taken July 30, 1929 near the Sea Horse Islands, Alaska. Her autobiography is available in book form: "Leonie: A Woman Ahead of Her Time" Lime Orchard Publications, 2011, and online at Wikipedia Start Price: $500.00