Collection: Fry

Item Number: Fry0006

Category: Effigy

Region: Arctic

Tribe: Eskimo

Period: 1825-1850

Materials: Cedar wood; Russian trade beads

Description: Carved wooden effigy in the form of a right whale, made to contain sharpened harpoon points or blades used in whale hunting. Trade beads are used to represent eyes. It was believed by the Eskimo whale hunters that carrying the harpoon points in the body of this effigy would cause the whale to become accustomed to having points within it. The whale would, therefore, allow itself to be killed.

Dimensions: Length 14 inches; Width 4.25 inches

Provenance:

Jeffrey Myers, New York, N.Y.

Exhibitions:

Lure of the Arctic, Cincinnati Art Museum, October 2007 - January 2008

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