lot of 3, includes a pair of carved ivory earrings with incised and inked circular decorations; hook back; pierced for attachments, length 1 in.; AND a line detacher decorated with similar motif, length 1.25 in.
19th century
Similar examples can be found in the collections of the American Museum of Natural History(T/22371 and 60/2380).
Gilbert W. Dilley (1902-1996) began collecting American Indian Art at a young age. A Cherokee Indian, who had once performed with Buffalo Bill, told the youth tales of American Indian culture and introduced him to the collecting world. However, it wasn’t until 1926, after Dilley opened a law practice in Akron, Ohio, that his collecting habits burgeoned. As an amateur archaeologist he associated with renown archaeologists: Warren K. Moorehead, Henry Clyde Shetrone, and Byron Knoblock. Thus he expanded his knowledge and collections.
The same year Dilley opened his law practice, he purchased a portion of Edward E. Ayer’s (1841-1927) American Indian art collection. Ayer is famous for his Indian book collection that is now part of the Newberry Library in Chicago.
Collected by Gilbert W. Dilley Esq. (1902-1996)
Condition: One earring missing central baleen insert.