[Rarebooks] FS: Northwest Coast Indian Shamanism Arts & Crafts

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

TITLE: “Tangible Visions. Northwest Coast Indian Shamanism and its Art”

By Allen Wardwell.
Published by the Monacelli Press in 1996.

DISCUSSION: “Northwest Coast Indian art is famous for its spectacular
totem poles, house posts, feast dishes, boxes, and painted house fronts.
Less well known but equally important is the art made for use by shamans,
particularly those of the Tlingit, Tsimshian, and Haida tribes. This
volume presents the first comprehensive illustrated study of the various
kinds of painted and carved objects that were carried and worn by shamans
as they went about their duties. In order to form alliances with animal
spirits, Northwest Coast shamans deprived themselves of food, water, and
sleep during long vigils in the wilderness. The spirits that came to them
in dreams and visions at such times could then be summoned to assist in
healing and divinatory séances. Much of the ceremonial paraphernalia
represents the helping spirits in the shaman's service. Certain examples,
which show complex juxtapositions of many animals and human figures,
depict the dreams or trance experiences of the shaman at the time he was
forming his alliances. This study places Northwest Coast shamanism in a
world-wide context and demonstrates the ways its practices and beliefs are
similar to those found elsewhere. Throughout the book are archival
photographs—portraits of shamans and their decaying grave houses—as well
as descriptions of their lives, exploits and performances. A discussion of
the complex iconography, which includes such creatures as land otters,
devilfish, oystercatchers, mountain goats, and drowning men. The heart of
the book is a catalogue of the objects—masks, amulets, storage boxes,
drinking cups, clothing, drums, rattles, figure sculptures, soul catchers,
staffs, crowns, and combs—employed by shamans. More than five hundred
photographs, a large number published here for the first time, show the
finest examples of Northwest Coast shamanistic art in museums and private
collections throughout the world. This ground-breaking study brings
attention to a corpus of Northwest Coast art, that, until now, has not
received the attention it merits. It will be of importance to scholars and
the general reader as well as those interested in the history and practice
of shamanism”.

DESCRIPTION: Hardcover. 10.5”x11.5”, 336 pages, color and black & white
illustrations, dust jacket.

CONDITION NOTES: Minor wear, but overall clean and nice, with a tight
binding and no marks.

PRICE: $65.00

SOME PICTURES =>

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JOSLIN HALL RARE BOOKS, ABAA
Fine books of the 16th-20th centuries
on the decorative and fine arts & design

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