An Interesting Aleut Eskimo Spear Thrower in wood and marine ivory . Aleutian Islands South Western Alaska
An Interesting Aleut Eskimo Spear Thrower in wood and marine ivory . Aleutian Islands South Western Alaska
19 th Century
Size : 34 cm long , 7 cm wide – 13½ ins long , 2¾ ins wide
19 th Century
Size : 34 cm long , 7 cm wide – 13½ ins long , 2¾ ins wide
The Aleut used a throwing stick for all their projectiles . The bone peg holds the end of the spear that is used when hunting small game and certain birds and fish . An Aleut hunters kit would contain not just one type of spear or harpoon , but as many as a dozen each uniquely effective in capturing a particular type of mammal , fish or bird . Armed with superior equipment and a thorough knowledge of the habits of his prey the Aleut hunter harvested every animal and fish resource that his barren Islands had to offer .
This beautifully formed functional object can be viewed as a piece of sculpture in the form of a whale or from the reverse as a birds head .
This beautifully formed functional object can be viewed as a piece of sculpture in the form of a whale or from the reverse as a birds head .
An Interesting Aleut Eskimo Spear Thrower in wood and marine ivory . Aleutian Islands South Western Alaska
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