Native American Indian artifact from the Fry collection - Eskimo Float

Collection: Fry

Item Number: Fry0195

Category: Float - Net Float

Region: Arctic

Tribe: Eskimo

Period: 1900-1925

Materials: Wood, walrus ivory and seal hide line.

Description: Net float, from Point Hope, Alaska, collected by Claire Fejes in the 1950s. This net float has two ivory rattles to alert the Eskimo fishermen that they have made a catch. The seal imagery was used on net floats like this, since seals were considered good fish catchers. It was thought that the seal image would aid the fishermen.

Dimensions: 4.25"

Provenance:

Claire Fejes, Fairbanks, Alaska