Native American, Pacific Northwest Coast, Alaska, Inuit, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A set of 5 white fishing lures, each hand-carved from either whale bone or walrus ivory. Three of the hooks have a sharpened iron hook, each one decorated with colorful beaded inlays to create eyes and even scales. One hook has a pointed bone barb, and the last has no hook but is designed to become lodged in the throat of anything that swallows it. Fishing tackle like these were invaluable for Inuit hunters as they provided a much-needed lifeline for surviving in the harsh wintery climate. Size of largest: 4.5" L x 0.9" W (11.4 cm x 2.3 cm); (display case): 2.8" L x 9.2" W x 11.25" H (7.1 cm x 23.4 cm x 28.6 cm)

Please note this item falls under the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act and is not eligible for international shipping. Native American, Alaska Native, & Native Hawaiian objects are only eligible to ship within the United States.

This is a pre-Act piece of walrus ivory under the MMPA 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 was made prior to 1972.

Provenance: private West Jordon, Utah, USA collection; ex-Reno, Nevada, 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.

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#178554

All with light abrasions and softening to finer features, with expected oxidation to iron hooks, otherwise intact and excellent. Great surface texture throughout.