Northwest Coast (Nootka Sound) Fish Hook…..Ex Capt. James Cook

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Northwest Coast (Nootka Sound) Fish Hook…..Ex Capt. James Cook:
$1775.00

This is an exceedinglyrare & very important Northwest Coast artifact from the Nootka Sound (thewest coast of Vancouver Island)…This fish hook is one of a handful of specimenswhich were collected by the famed discoverer Capt James Cook during his 3rd(and final) ill fated journey in (1776 – 1779).

Most of the Cookartifacts were purchased (some were donated) by Sir Ashton Lever; who compiledan impressive collection of natural objects and tribal artifacts which werehoused in his private museum aptly named the Leverian Museum, but also known asthe “Holophusicon” established on Leicester Square, London, UK…from 1775 –1786…….Sometime in the late 18th century, Lever commissioned a oneSarah Stone (a brilliant illustrator) to illustrate/record/document…most ofCook’s artifacts. An identical fish hook is illustrated in the book titled (Artand Artifacts of the 18th century…by Sarah Stone).

****THE PURCHASER OFTHIS FISH HOOK WILL RECEIVE THIS RARE BOOK (WORTH $80)… FREE!!!

There is a wealth ofinformation on the net about the interesting voyages of James Cook, AshtonLever and some info on Sarah Stone as well…so do read about them.

Fish hook description-

A very beautifulcomposite artifact made, primarily, from the root (manufactured via thebentwood method) of the cedar tree. A bone barb for hooking the bait, sprucetree fibre binding…and lastly (an important feature) an old 18thcentury label with Lever`s or Stone`s inscription, incorrectly attributing thehook to somewhere in the South Seas…..It`s important to note that….before Cook reachedthe Pacific Northwest Coast region, he first sailed the South Seas….(if youaren’t familiar with Cook’s fascinating voyages, pls read about them)…and someof the collected artifacts, which were donated to Lever by Cook’s wifeElizabeth, didn’t come with any accurate information pertaining to their placeof origin; hence quite q few were prone to misidentification by Sir AshtonLever……The late 18th century inscription, on the very aged andyellowed label, is plausibly, of Lever’s.

Provenance-

Ex- Scotland (Glasgow)tribal arts collection for many years

Ex- English (London)collection

Present tribal artcollection.

Measurements-

This is a large fishhook (used to catch large fish …like Halibut (a very important food item forthe Nootka and other NWC peoples)……..measuring almost 7 inches (18 cms)!!

Condition issues –

In excellent conditionfor its more than 200 year old age!!!...Absolutely gorgeous sinuous form andlovely old patina!!

****A MAGNIFICIENT, HIGHLY IMPORTANT AND EXTREMELY RAREARTIFACT….WITH A FANTASTIC & VERY IMPORTANT PROVENANCE!!.....NICEBEAUTIFUL DARK GLOSSY PATINA….A LARGE FISH HOOK.....YOU WILL FIND ONE IDENTICAL SPECIMEN IN THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (NEW YORK)..IN THE HALL OF THE NORTHWEST COAST ARTIFACTS.

****IT IS WORTH MUCH MORE THAN WHAT I’M OFFERING IT FORHERE.

****IT IS A MUSEUM SPECIEMEN (POSSIBLY, ONCE HOUSED IN SOMEMUSEUM SOMEWHERE IN EUROPE; DEFINITLEY, THE LEVARIAN MUSEUM)

***DON’T LET THIS ONEGET AWAY!!

REASONABLE OFFERS ONLY PLEASE!