Menu
EUR
CAD
AUD
GBP
MXN
HKD
CNY
MYR
SEK
SGD
CHF
THBSouthern African Khoisan Beaded Tortoise Shell Vessel
Lot 71
About Seller
Artemis Fine Arts
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Categories
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$1,000 - $1,800
Absentee vs Live bid
Two ways to bid:
- Leave a max absentee bid and the platform will bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid during the live auction.
- Bid live during the auction and your bids will be submitted real-time to the auctioneer.
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Fine Arts
Aug 22, 2025
Set Reminder
2025-08-22 10:00:00
2025-08-22 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Indigenous Art - Ralph T. Coe Center, Santa Fe, NM
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/indigenous-art---ralph-t-coe-center-santa-fe-nm-20324
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
View Full Catalog (452)
- Lot Description
Southern Africa, Botswana/Namibia/Angola, San or Khoisan culture, ca. 20th century CE. A personal adornment and functional container crafted from a natural tortoise shell, once used much like a compact to hold a fragrant powder made from the charcoal of aromatic woods or crushed flower petals. One end is tightly sealed with a plug of fibrous material and resin, while the open end is pierced with a leather suspension cord. An additional leather strip is adorned with cascading strands of brightly colored seed beads, some terminating in wooden beads. Worn by women on the arm as an ornament, this shell served a dual purpose: decorative and olfactory - not only a form of personal fragrance but may also have had ritual or symbolic significance. Size of shell: 5" L x 3.5" W x 2.2" H (12.7 cm x 8.9 cm x 5.6 cm); beaded tassels add 6" L (15.2 cm)
This object appears to be made from the shell of a Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys [Geochelone] pardalis), a species currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and listed in CITES Appendix II. While not currently endangered, Appendix II status means international trade is regulated to avoid threats to the species’ survival. Please be aware that several countries and U.S. states prohibit or restrict the importation of items made from wildlife materials, including tortoise shell, regardless of the species' conservation status. In some cases, an additional import license or documentation may be required due to conservation and endangered species legislation. If you are uncertain whether CITES regulations apply to this item, we strongly encourage you to consult the official CITES Appendices or contact your local regulatory authority before purchase or shipment.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; ex-Ralph T. Coe personal collection, gifted from James Economos of Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA in 2008.
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#196059Intact and excellent.Condition
- Shipping Info
-
All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Fine Arts will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please ask before bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
-
- Buyer's Premium
