Zemanek-Münster

Winged object, c. 8th century AD ·  Alaska, Punuk · ID: 3050372

not available anymore
Provenance
collected in the 1960s in Alaska
James Economos (1938-2019), Santa Fé, USA
Size
H: 12,5 cm
H: 4.9 inch

Description

walrus tooth, wood (plug), handwritten collection no. “E 34”, base

Superb example of a turreted winged object. Used to counterbalance the harpoon during flight, these counterweights represented the “wings” of the harpoon, believed to be a stylized bird of prey.


The object Winged object, c. 8th century AD with the object ID 3050372 was last part of the auction 101st Auction at November 11, 2023 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 102.

Here you will find more objects and interesting facts about American art.


Comparing literature

Fitzhugh, William W., Gifts from the ancestors, London 2009, p. 185, Fig. k.


Publications

van Ruysevelt, Yannik (ed.), "Inuit Visions", Brussels 2015


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