Aleut Artifacts to Be Sold Despite Plea

Two Native American artifacts will go to auction at Sotheby’s in New York City despite objections from Alaska’s Aleut tribe, which says the objects are important cultural items. A wooden hat dating from the 16th or 17th century that was worn by hunters to attract sea mammals and a wooden burial mask from the 18th or 19th century are to be auctioned Wednesday, Sotheby’s spokeswoman Emma Cunningham said. An Aleut association had written to the auction house and the owner of the artifacts asking them to donate the pieces to the tribe. The auction house said the artifact’s owner, Adelaide DeMenil, turned down the request. The hunting hat is expected to sell for between $35,000 and $45,000, while the mask is valued at between $15,000 and $18,000, Sotheby’s said.