Native American, Arctic region, Inuit, ca. 1000 to 1700 CE. Charming in its simplicity, this is a fishing lure in the form of a miniature whale, its body carved from marine mammal bone to have a graceful, curved back, a splayed tail, drilled eyes, and an incised mouth. A wide hole through the center forms the functional part of the piece. Size: 3.65" W x 0.75" H (9.3 cm x 1.9 cm); 2.9" H (7.4 cm) on included custom stand.

For thousands of years and across the thousands of miles that encompass the Arctic world, people have carved miniatures from bone, antler, and ivory. Many seem to have been used as toggles, amulets, or charms, while, in the past, many also seem to have had shamanic power. In indigenous Arctic cosmology, all living beings have a "tarniq" or a "tarninga" which means a shade or image that is, literally, a tiny human or tiny animal with the same appearance. This is comparable to the Western idea of a soul. If the living being was somehow separated from his or her tarniq, they would fall ill, and, without shamanic intervention, ultimately die. This concept of a miniature representing a soul seems intimately linked with the practice of creating miniatures.

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#133620

Excellent rich, dark patina. Beautifully preserved form. Some deep scratches on the underside and low on one side, most likely as the result of use.