Trade Route Fetish Necklace [R]

Kaniatobe was well known for making marvelous necklaces comprised of a multitude of materials. This one seems to focus on a variety of birds, frogs, bears, and a very large and detailed horse, all from fossilized walrus ivory.

This necklace consists of five strands of small white trade beads and parts that appear to be jet, Chevron beads (circa 1900), Vaseline beads (1860), Hubbell beads (circa 1920), malachite, amber, Venetian glass, old brass, turquoise, agate, and possibly other materials.

Kaniatobe was born in Tom, Oklahoma and attended Idabel Public Schools during his early years. He graduated from Chilocco Indian School, served in the U. S. Army in the Medical Corps and was stationed in Alaska and France. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from San Francisco State University.

His specialties were designing and carving ivory fetish figures, designing silver art works and sculpting in clay. In the 1980s, he began putting his carved fossilized fetish carvings together with various beads and forming exquisite necklaces.

This necklace is circa 1990 and is in original excellent condition. His name is stamped into the two end pieces of brass near the clasp.

Commentary: Robert and his wife, Kristen, shared the building with Adobe Gallery for a number of years, perhaps from around 1980 to 1995. They had the three rooms on the south end of the building and called their gallery The Iron Horse. Perhaps some of you remember them.