A Northwest Coast figure


The head hollowed out at back, depicted with a frog protruding from his mouth, a larger frog emerging from the chest, two more seen at the knees, "Hugh S. Wyman, Sitka 1884" written in pencil on the underside.height 12 1/2in
|ProvenanceCollected by Dr. Hugh S. Wyman (1858-1913), thence through the family. Acquired from a descendant by the vendor, part of a collection of Native American artifacts assembled by Dr. Hugh S. Wyman and his brother, Dr. Hal C. Wyman. In 1884, Wyman was serving as Assistant Surgeon aboard the U.S.S. Pinta, stationed in Sitka, along with fellow officer and noted ethnographer George T. Emmons. After resigning his Navy commission in 1885, Wyman remained in Alaska until 1899, residing on Douglas Island and Juneau before moving his practice to Olympia, Washington.