Native American, Northwestern United States, Alaska, Beringian / Old Bering Sea Culture, ca. 200 BCE to 500 CE. A fine fishing lure in the form of a miniature fish carved from walrus ivory in a slender petaloid shape. The lure has cavities drilled into the head as eyes and slit form gills to appear more lifelike, the eyes are even infilled with wooden pupils. The ivory is pierced through the body in two places to attach to a line and/or a hook. The cultures of the Bering Sea often decorated their hunting and fishing tools with the images of the animals they hunted to honor the spirits and imbue their tools with power, but this fish lure was likely supposed to imitate a mullet or minnow for flounder fishing. Size: 5" L x 1" W (12.7 cm x 2.5 cm)

This is an ESA antique exempt piece of ivory and cannot be sold internationally or to anyone residing in the states of California, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. We guarantee that the piece is over 100 years old.

Provenance: private Covington, Louisiana, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#169884

Surface abrasions and nicks throughout as expected with age and use. Very dark and aged patina with black mineral deposits. Overall excellent preservation.