**Originally Listed At $350**

Native American, Northwestern United States, Alaska, St. Lawrence Island, Beringian / Old Bering Sea Culture, ca. 300 to 500 CE. A harpoon counterweight hand carved from walrus ivory that would attach to the tail end of a spear or harpoon for balance and to facilitate the harpoon's flight. These stabilizers often look like soaring birds or butterflies, hence their name "winged objects." Some are intricately carved into the forms of birds to imbue power to fly straight and true into the target. This example simple and unadorned, with a drilled socket in the thick center, with a pair of lashing holes flaking the sides where the wooden shaft was inserted. Size: 4" L x 1" W x 2" H (10.2 cm x 2.5 cm x 5.1 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 southwestern Pennsylvania, USA collection, acquired prior to 2000

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.

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#144750

Fragment of larger piece. Older losses to wing and remaining wing tip as shown. Stable fissure to lost wing area. No repairs or restoration. Surface pitting and natural bone ossification. Dark patina throughout.