Tlingit, Northwest Coast, Alaska
1860
Wood, fiber, and metal hook
Height 10¾ in. (27.3 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Upstate New York
This Tlingit halibut hook was made around 1860 and includes a carved bird design on the upper wooden element. Halibut hooks were essential fishing tools on the Northwest Coast, where marine resources supported daily life, trade, and ceremonial economies. The carved imagery reflects the way functional objects could also carry visual and cultural meaning.
The hook is constructed from shaped wood with binding and a metal barb, showing the combined practical design required for deep-water fishing. The bird head and incised details give the object a sculptural quality while remaining clearly tied to use. Its worn surface and early date place it within a strong tradition of Tlingit fishing technology and carved tool forms.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Tlingit, Northwest Coast, Alaska
1860
Wood, fiber, and metal hook
Height 10¾ in. (27.3 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Upstate New York
This Tlingit halibut hook was made around 1860 and includes a carved bird design on the upper wooden element. Halibut hooks were essential fishing tools on the Northwest Coast, where marine resources supported daily life, trade, and ceremonial economies. The carved imagery reflects the way functional objects could also carry visual and cultural meaning.
The hook is constructed from shaped wood with binding and a metal barb, showing the combined practical design required for deep-water fishing. The bird head and incised details give the object a sculptural quality while remaining clearly tied to use. Its worn surface and early date place it within a strong tradition of Tlingit fishing technology and carved tool forms.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
