King Island (Ugiuvak), Alaska, Inuit
Walrus ivory
Length 4 3/4" (12.1 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Costa Mesa, CA
Net pulls were used by Inuit hunters to haul and manage fishing and hunting nets, the hooked form allowing a firm grip on wet cordage in cold Arctic conditions. Objects of this type carved from walrus ivory were produced for practical use rather than trade, the material chosen for its durability, density, and resistance to cold and moisture. King Island, situated in the Bering Sea, was home to a community of Inuit hunters and carvers whose functional ivory objects reflect the same formal discipline found in their more elaborate carvings.
This net pull is carved in a smooth hooked form with a bear head terminal, the overall shape well suited to its function while the animal carving at the end reflects the Inuit practice of animating utilitarian objects with imagery. The ivory has developed a warm patina through sustained use and handling, the surface smooth and consistent with an object that served a working life before entering the collection. Provenance traces to a private collection in Costa Mesa, California.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
King Island (Ugiuvak), Alaska, Inuit
Walrus ivory
Length 4 3/4" (12.1 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Costa Mesa, CA
Net pulls were used by Inuit hunters to haul and manage fishing and hunting nets, the hooked form allowing a firm grip on wet cordage in cold Arctic conditions. Objects of this type carved from walrus ivory were produced for practical use rather than trade, the material chosen for its durability, density, and resistance to cold and moisture. King Island, situated in the Bering Sea, was home to a community of Inuit hunters and carvers whose functional ivory objects reflect the same formal discipline found in their more elaborate carvings.
This net pull is carved in a smooth hooked form with a bear head terminal, the overall shape well suited to its function while the animal carving at the end reflects the Inuit practice of animating utilitarian objects with imagery. The ivory has developed a warm patina through sustained use and handling, the surface smooth and consistent with an object that served a working life before entering the collection. Provenance traces to a private collection in Costa Mesa, California.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
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