A Rare Marshal Islands, Micronesia, Trolling Lure Hook

A Rare Marshal Islands, Micronesia, Trolling Lure Hook
Pearl shell shank and pierced point, hackle and binding of fibre strands, twisted fibre snood
19th Century
Size: 9.5cm long – 3¾ ins long
These trolling lure hooks have a distinctive form that appears to be unique to the Marshal Islands. Now a Republic these remote Micronesian Islands lie in the Western Pacific ocean. These hooks were made for use on traditional fishing expeditions that required several nights to be spent at sea and for which strong canoes were built using shell tools. ‘Sea Charts’ were used in a remarkable form of navigation consisting of a framework of sticks with small shells attached to indicate island positions, which acted as an aide memoire for the hunters in locating currents, reefs, fish, atolls and islands and in navigating a homeward voyage.

A Rare Marshal Islands, Micronesia, Trolling Lure Hook

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ENQUIRIES

+44 (0)7768 236921
+44 (0)7836 684133

enquiries@finch-and-co.co.uk