λThree Inuit implements Alaska

λThree Inuit implements

Alaska, 19th century

walrus ivory, including two ice picks, one pierced and with a tenon end, 38.6cm and the other with a faceted end with incised lines, 42.7cm long, and a bow drill, one side incised a figure next to a large net, one end with an inventory number 1282, 44.3cm long. (3)

Provenance

A private collection, Canada.

The ice picks were attached to the butt end of harpoons and used for breaking the ice around a seal hunting hole.