Salekhard region, West Siberia, Russia
Nenets or Khanty people
19th century or earlier
Height 3 5/8 in (9.2 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Finland, Helsinki
Among the indigenous peoples of the Yamalo-Nenets region of West Siberia, face amulets and pendants served as portable embodiments of protective spirits, worn by shamans and community members as a means of mediating between the human and spiritual worlds. The Khanty and Nenets traditions both include carved anthropomorphic figures used as spirit helpers, attached to shamanic costumes or worn independently as personal protection. The inlaid eyes on this pendant are characteristic of the region's amulet-carving tradition, where eyes were understood as the seat of spiritual agency and presence.
The flat, mask-like face form and compact proportions are consistent with West Siberian shamanic objects documented in ethnographic collections across Finnish and Russian museums. The piece carries a strong surface aged patina consistent with sustained handling over an extended period. Its provenance from a Finnish private collection in Helsinki reflects the historical proximity of Finland to the Yamalo-Nenets region and the documented presence of such objects in Scandinavian and Finnish collections from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Salekhard region, West Siberia, Russia
Nenets or Khanty people
19th century or earlier
Height 3 5/8 in (9.2 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Finland, Helsinki
Among the indigenous peoples of the Yamalo-Nenets region of West Siberia, face amulets and pendants served as portable embodiments of protective spirits, worn by shamans and community members as a means of mediating between the human and spiritual worlds. The Khanty and Nenets traditions both include carved anthropomorphic figures used as spirit helpers, attached to shamanic costumes or worn independently as personal protection. The inlaid eyes on this pendant are characteristic of the region's amulet-carving tradition, where eyes were understood as the seat of spiritual agency and presence.
The flat, mask-like face form and compact proportions are consistent with West Siberian shamanic objects documented in ethnographic collections across Finnish and Russian museums. The piece carries a strong surface aged patina consistent with sustained handling over an extended period. Its provenance from a Finnish private collection in Helsinki reflects the historical proximity of Finland to the Yamalo-Nenets region and the documented presence of such objects in Scandinavian and Finnish collections from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
