Native American, North America, Pacific Northwest Coast, Alaska, St. Lawrence Island, Inuit, Punuk stage, ca. 500 to 1000 CE. A hand-carved walrus ivory harpoon point of an elongated triangular form with one projecting fin, recessed hafting slot on the verso, a central fastening hole, and a bifurcated triangular tip meant to hold a sharpened slate point. Incised linear and stippled decorations adorn one side of the tool. Secured to the end of a stable pole, this harpoon point would have been an invaluable tool to the ancients occupying the territories which border the Bering Sea. Size: 3.3" L x 0.875" W (8.4 cm x 2.2 cm)

This is a pre-Act piece of walrus ivory under the MMPA and cannot be sold internationally or to anyone residing in the states of California, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. We guarantee that the piece was made prior to 1972.

Provenance: private Southern California, USA collection, bestowed 2006; ex-J. Malter collection, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired before 2006

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#167844

Chips and small losses to frontal tips of point holder, with light abrasions across scattered surfaces, and minor softening to some incised details. Smooth, lustrous patina throughout.