Hopefully this is allowed. Brand new poster, and I hope you fine folks can help me out.
I haven’t tested the metal, but I don’t think it’s silver.
The arms and the rounded segments seem to be added to the main body, as does the wire.
I’ve been told it’s Alaskan in origin (a birth totem) but doesn’t seem to match anything I’ve seen. Does anyone have any insight?
Thanks for sharing, interesting piece. I was hoping someone here would know something about it. My searches revealed nothing. I find it interesting to have a fish and a snake, don’t think of those two going together.
Going out on a limb.
There are various Native Clans in Alaska. Each clan has one or more animals, fish, birds, reptiles, etc., attached to it.
If this is a totem, could the creatures represent the clans of the parents?
Marriage between two people from different clans used to be very rare. It is becoming more common, but not always approved.
If it is a totem concept, it could be a commercial or an individual artisan’s interpretation, rather than Native made. This has a sort of 1980s faux “ethnic” jewelry look, to me.
I happened to spot a piece on Etsy with a similar vibe, abstract mixed metals. Described as mid-century Mod (and do they really know this to be the case?).
Thanks for the info everybody.
I really wish I had some back story to it - would be so much easier.
Chicfarmer - you have a point, does look similar-ish. More to think about!
-K
