Harpoon Head – Punuk, St Lawrence Island, Alaska

In contrast to the finely detailed designs of some toggling harpoon heads, this example shows a streamlined geometric form with largely smooth surfaces. A single pair of incised lines, decorated with a few prominent spurs, runs down the center of the head, passing the central line hole and reaching to the back end of the toggle point, which terminates in a clean, acute angle.

Notably, this harpoon head retains its blade, made of black chipped obsidian and fastened in its slot with a length of baleen fiber.



AD 1600–1800
Animal bone, obsidian, baleen
L: 9 1/2"
Provenance:

Jeffrey Myers, New York

Item Number:
658
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