Ivory Eagle Fetishes for Native American Style Flutes
These birds have been mounted on my standard block that I use for my carved fetishes. The Eagles are hand carved from Mammoth Ivory (mammoth tusks). Mammoths roamed the earth until around 10,000 years ago when they were eventually wiped out either by early man or by climate change. Either way, they're not here any more. The tusks are harvested from creek beds and other geological sites in Alaska, sent to Bali and carved by expert artisans. A side note, the old carvers are not able to pass on their trades and talents because the younger generations are not interested in learning skills. There may be no one to carry on this art in the future, so if you wish to own art work like this which is made by human hands, now is the time to do it. These pieces are not carved in China by slave labor or machines, but by real artisans that have been practicing a trade that was handed down through the generations.
Let's talk about the specifics. Will these pieces fit your flute? Good question. If your flute has the flue (air passage) cut into the flute itself, you should be good to go. If the flue is cut into the bottom your bird. this block will not work. In other words, if your original fetish is flat on the underside this fetish should be OK for your flute. The blocks are 3/4" wide for the large Eagle and slightly narrower than that for the rest. The length of the base is around 2 3/16", which should be enough to cover most flutes' wind ways. The chimney (the groove at the front of the block) is 7/16" wide. If your TSH (True Sound Hole) is 7/16" or less in width, this block should work. I will ship these Eagles in a box with plenty of new leather tie.
The block, which the Eagle rests on, is made of Eastern Aromatic Cedar. The Eagles have a small nail in the base that mates up with a hole in the center of the block. The Eagles are epoxied to the block and the whole thing has a light coat of Polyurethane to protect the Ivory and Cedar from moisture, stains and UV light. The Ivory will absorb oil and moisture and can be damaged if left unprotected. The Polyurethane helps keep these birds maintenance free. They are very sturdy and with a minimum amount of care will last a lifetime. They've already made it 10,000 years, so if you're just a little bit careful with them, they'll outlast you and I.
