Ethnographic Art for the Discerning Collector!

Archive for September, 2013

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People’s Spotlight: Northwest Coast Native People

NW Coast Native Fossilized Ivory Jewelry

NW Coast Native Fossilized Ivory Jewelry

Fossil Ivory Walrus Sculpture (front view)

Fossil Ivory Walrus Sculpture (front view)

Fossil Ivory Walrus Sculpture

Fossil Ivory Walrus Sculpture

NW Coast Spirit Mask made of Fossil Ivory and Baleen (front view)

NW Coast Spirit Mask made of Fossil Ivory and Baleen (front view)

NW Coast Spirit Mask made of Fossil Ivory and Baleen (rear view) showing several spirits

NW Coast Spirit Mask made of Fossil Ivory and Baleen (rear view) showing several spirits

Sculpture made of Fossil Ivory with Baleen sled

Sculpture made of Fossil Ivory with Baleen sled

NW Coast Sculpture made of Fossil Ivory with Baleen sled

NW Coast Sculpture made of Fossil Ivory with Baleen sled

NW Coast Native Fossilized Ivory Jewelry

NW Coast Native Fossilized Ivory Jewelry

Here at Spectrum Arts, we carry extraordinary works of native and folk art from around the world. To learn more about some of the native groups that have produced these wonderful artworks, we present the “Peoples Spotlight” blog series. Each “Peoples Spotlight” blog will take an in-depth look at one of the tribes whose art we continue to revere today. Our first “Peoples Spotlight” piece will focus on the Native Americans who inhabited the western coast of Canada and Alaska, popularly referred to as the Pacific Northwest Indians.

The Pacific Northwest Indians developed a vibrant culture because of the wealth of natural resources at their disposal. They harvested a bounty of ocean-living animals and used the rich forests to construct cedar longhouses and their iconic totem poles. Their unique ritual events, the Potlatch, incorporated gift-giving ceremonies by the tribal chiefs, elaborate feasts, and entrancing music and dancing linked to the spirit world.

Art in the eyes of the Pacific Northwest Indians was important for many reasons. It glorified the supernatural and environmental elements in their daily lives, celebrated tribal and family lineages, and in many cases, made every day items more aesthetically pleasing. The wealth of these nations allowed artisans to practice their artistic expression on a large scale, in carvings, masks, sculptures, totem poles, and longhouses.

You can own a piece of the rich history of the peoples of the Northwest Coast today. Shop our selection of Pacific Northwest Indian art to find a perfect piece for your collection today.

Written

on September 13, 2013

Displaying Tribal Art

Collectors use a variety of techniques to spotlight their prized art pieces. Displaying native art is a far more subtle and complex process than simply shining a bright light on your artwork. The following helpful hints will help you create a showcase worthy for your native art collection.

Utilizing display cases is one of the easiest ways to safely display your art. Protecting primitive artworks from both accidents and external contaminants, a display case also provides a formal method of showing off your items. For textiles, you can hang rugs and quilts from wall hangers which distribute the weight of the textile across the hanger. This prevents you from puncturing the fabric or fastening it in a damaging way. For storing smaller works of art, stands for masks and dolls prop them up, allowing for excellent display. Measure your pieces to make sure you purchase a stand of the correct size for the best display options. The preferred presentation is one in which the display stand is minimally, or not, visible, allowing all details of the piece to be shown.  There are various opinions as to whether or not drilling into a piece to secure it is acceptable, as it can be considered alteration of the piece.

Lighting is another area of art display that is important for extending the life of your piece. Battery-operated picture lights can be placed in places where outlets are impractical. Track lights can illuminate a number of pieces at once, and are favorites in museum displays. Spotlights are also useful for lighting a piece from below. Be sure to consult an art conservationist or restoration artist if you’re concerned about your particular art pieces. It’s very important to keep in mind that certain kinds of light will damage specific materials more than others, so be sure to consult a specialist if you have individual questions about your works. 

Display stands can be viewed at www.spectrumartsinc.comImage .

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