MORTAR & PESTLE, 57, Lbs; MASSIVE, CATALINA ISLAND, S. CA (A RALPH GLIDDEN FIND)
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:5358 | Color: Tan/Brown |
| Material: Stone | Maker: Indigenous people of Catalina Island |
| Original/Reproduction: Original |
CHUMASH MORTAR & PESTLE, 57+ lbs; MASSIVE, SANTA CATALINA ISLAND, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (A RALPH GLIDDEN FIND)MortarLength: 13Width: 11½”Height: 9”Hole Diameter: 7”Bowl Depression Depth: 5”Weight: 53 lbs 3.2 ozPestleLength: 8 ½”Mid-Diameter: 2 ¾”Weight: 4 lbs 10 ozThis is a LARGE, CHUMASH BOWL-MORTAR fromSanta Catalina Island.Found by the notorious Catalina artifacthunter Ralph Glidden, it ev...entually was sold to a San Jose, Californiacollector, where later in time, it foundits way to this site.What sets this assemblage apart from otherCatalina mortars is the smooth depth of the artifact coupled with the verydense, giant pestle. Itis the perfectcollector’s artifact.Crafted from Catalinaquarry-stone (a form of steatite)-- an area near the island airport-- thismortar and continental pestle are the finest examples of the island’sprehistoric stone carving industry—it is an astonishing bit of master carving!Readily evident are abrasion scratches, anancient side-ding/notch, and chips, which are to be expected from an ancientstone carving that has been transported in ancient and modern times.The pestle shows similar abrasions, percussivemarks and long-ago chinks.The indigenous people of Catalina were well known forcrafting beautiful, bowl-shaped mortars from local stone deposits. Infact, for centuries before white settlers stormed into the region, theirhandiwork was canoe-transported throughout the southern coastline ofCalifornia. In fact, several decades ago, divers off the La JollaBeach club in southern California spotted an ocean-bottom mortar pile about amile from the shore. Apparently, aChumash canoe was attempting to deliver a supply of these unique stone toolswhen the craft was seemingly swamped and dozens of these mortars ended up onthe ocean bottom. Today this is aPROTECTED archeological site, but it still can be seen.Ralph Glidden grew up onCatalina and spent his adult years roaming around the island gathering upartifacts for the Heye Foundation.(The Heye Foundation’scollection started in 1897 by George G. Heye, a wealthy east coast oil man, whosystematically began purchasing large archeological collections from around theworld. This Foundation later became the National Museum of the AmericanIndian)In the ‘teens Gliddenmade his daily bread by selling as many Catalina artifacts as possible, shipping them to the Heye Foundation.Due to his rather sloppycollecting methods and ever increasingly bizarre claims about the giantsinhabiting Catalina eventually the Foundation cut all ties with Glidden.Glidden went on privatelycollecting stones throughout the 1920s, 30s and 40s providing increasinglystrange tales about his findings. Heeven set up a rather primitive “museum” of his findings and displayed hisobsession with artifacts, and quite unfortunately, human remains. This last, outrageous behavior has foreverbanished this guy from the annals of Catalina history—However, Glidden didindeed find hundreds of stone tools, this mortar included. (Seehistorical photo of “museum” interior display and Glidden showing visitingtourists how one of the Catalina mortars was used).By the early 1960s, dirtpoor and sick he eventually sold his entire archeological assemblage to severalmainland collectors.It is highly UNLIKELYthat you will come across such a gorgeous mortar/pestle assemblage fromCatalina with Glidden’s “fingerprints” all over it again!COA available.(Historical photos forperspective only.)
