
Daria Khristova nee Chernenko
Department Director
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£15,000 - £20,000
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Department Director
For a similar silver handle see Sotheby's, December 2004, lot 376.
The Leshii [Лeший] is a male woodland spirit in Slavic mythology. Sometimes mischievous, he can also be terrifying when threatened as his powers to protect crops and wildlife should not be underestimated. Here, Leshii is seated upon reed-pipes [кугиклы] and perched on a stump, recalling numerous shepherd's rituals in which an object was placed on a tree stump to summon him. In this pose, he does not appear dissimilar to a Greek Satyr. What is certain is that Leshii was a shepherd of the forest and that, modelled as a cane handle, he would have served as an amulet to his owner.
Please note that this lot is subject to CITES licensing only and not ivory restrictions, as stated in the catalogue.