This is a stunning, prehistoric Chumash steatite Orca / Killer Whale carved pipe with shell inlay accompanied with Tony Putty COA documentation from the ex-collections of Didier Leveque and Dr. Caroll Hasewinkel. The stunning California Curiosity was reviewed and found to be an authentic example by Tony Putty noted as Late Prehistoric Chumash Steatite with Shell Inlay and preserved the collection history. The piece exhibits solid steatite with hand carved into the shape of a whale effigy showing a Killer Whale, also referred to as an Orca Whale. The pipe is inlaid with original period shells and shows a carved bone pipe stem inlaid into the back. The pipe is hand painted from a previous collection, “Northwest Coast”. The piece is noted as being late-prehistoric dating to circa 1,000-1,600 B.P. Provenance: Dr. Caroll Hasewinkel (also spelled Carrol / Carroll / Carol) collection, ex-Didier Leveque French collection, comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Tony Putty dated July 16, 2016 noted as a 4” Whale Effigy Pipe Northwest Coast Late Prehistoric (possibly Chumash) Steatite with Shell Inlay Grade 10 with the collection history aforementioned. The Dr. Caroll Hasewinkel collection has been offered by Tony Putty with some early examples being offered for as much as $3,000-$4,000. For example see the Steatite Killer WHale Southern California from the Pail Stover Wingert collection which sold by Dreweatts Donnington Priory in Berkshire, UK in March 2017 for over $6,500 (w/ bp), this example shows the pipe hole in the head with bone pipe stem, a rarity shared with the pipe offered in this lot. The pipe is well kept with no major damages and expected wear from its historic age, no apparent repairs. Measures overall 4-inches long by 1 5/8-inches wide by 1.75-inches tall.