Native American, Northwestern United States, Alaska, Inuit & Yupik, ca. 16th to 19th century CE. A fascinating pair of wood and caribou antler tools for preparing hides and fishing. The larger is a wooden adze handle with a knobbed grip and a broad tip with a cut out opening at the center. The flat top is slightly slanted for a stone or bone blade to lie flush against, and a cord wrapped through the opening would secure this blade in place. The other tool is an antler harpoon tip with a barbed edge and a hole for hafting with a cord. Secured to the end of a stable pole, this harpoon point would have been invaluable to the ancients occupying the territories which border the Bering Sea. Size (wood handle): 11.25" L x 2" W (28.6 cm x 5.1 cm); (harpoon): 7.75" L x 0.75" W (19.7 cm x 1.9 cm)

Provenance: private southwestern Pennsylvania, USA collection, acquired prior to 2000

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#144773

Chips and abrasions to wooden adze handle. Larger losses along the handle and stable pressure fissures. Chips and abrasions to antler harpoon and active flaking of surface. Stable hair line fissures. Dark patina and nice signs of use and age to both.