This is a historic and important Quinault Shaman’s Ceremonial Guardian Implement from the 19th-century from an ex-Anacortes, Washington and Paris, France collections. The Quinault Indians inhabited what is now the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State, living along the coast, and are a distinct group of people that included the larger Salish complex of tribes. The most striking examples of their sculptural traditions are found in their highly stylized, extremely rare 'power figures', as represented in this lot. For reference see the Quinault Shaman’s staff circa 1850 sold by Santa Fe Art Auction in their February 2021 for $41,205 (w/ bp). The example sold by Santa Fe Art Auction is incredibly similar to the piece offered in this lot showing the same human figure with flat carved head, sharp eye sockets and nose with sharp chin wearing a necklace with hands turned in and upwards onto the chest. Also the bottom shows the figure standing on a disc like platform with carved handle. For a comparable example, identified as a rattle, see Holm (1983: 30): "This little figure is much more than a rattle. In fact its function as a rattle is secondary to its real purpose, the giving of assistance to a shaman at work. A number of similar carvings are known and something of their use and significance recorded. It is a representation of a spirit helper of the shaman, said to look just like that spirit experienced by the owner in a trance. The facial painting [...] are just as the spirit appeared." The example shows a dark rich coloring with a shiny patina, remnants of dirt in the crevasses, there is a string strung old, faceted trade beads around the neck. When shaken the necklace gives a rattle-like sound. Well kept with no major breaks or repairs. Typical wear. Measures 11.5-inches long. Provenance: Acquired from a collector in Anacortes, Washington and from a private collection from Paris, France. For further discussions of style and attribution and for illustrations of comparable examples, see: Bill Holm, The Box of Daylight: Northwest Coast Indian Art, University of Washington Press, 1983, p. 30. Paul Wingert, American Indian Sculpture: A Study of the Northwest Coast, J.J. Augustin, New York, 1949, p. 66, Fig. 1-6. For a similar example, see: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, L.2018.35.66