A birdstone sculpture, possibly from the last period of the Mound Builder culture. Birdstone carvings remain mysterious to this day. They have been found in large numbers from the northeast in Canada's Nova Scotia province to the banks of the Mississippi in the west, testifying to their popularity in ancient times, particularly in the Great Lakes region. Originating from the so-called Hopewell or Mound Builders cultures, these enigmatic bird-shaped sculptures, often with protruding eyes, were interpreted as hunting thruster handles, headdress ornaments and more. They are always carved in exceptional hard stone, veined or porphyritic as is the case here. Their extraordinary plasticity, with its rare and flattering modernity, has also motivated many counterfeits, which often make it impossible to guarantee their authenticity in the absence of a discovery in their original context. Here, however, we note the very fine quality of the porphyry-type stone with its black and marbled inclusions, as well as the very fine polish of the entire surface. Stylistically, this example from the Jean Roudillon collection is comparable to a very similar one from the John Wise collection, also carved in a porphyry-type stone. Probable period, 1500 to 500 B.C., Michigan or Ohio (Great Lakes region,) U.S.A. Porphyry stone with black and marbled inclusions, very fine polished patina, handwritten label by Jean Roudillon inscribed: Oswego Michigan Mound Builder. L.: 12 cm See for five other examples in: the online collections of the Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac in Paris, including four donated by John and Dominique de Ménil to the Musée de l'Homme in 1966, and one from the former D. H. Khanweiler collection donated by Louise and Michel Leiris. See for the copy from the John Wise collection in: vente Loudmer du 5 décembre 1992, lot 226. Provenance : Jean Roudillon Collection (Acquired in the U.S.A. according to his notes)