Harpoon Counterweight

The toggle harpoon of the prehistoric Inuit is a marvel of engineering. At the front is an ivory point, usually fitted with a sharpened stone blade. The point is attached to a small ivory fore shaft, which allows it to pivot after striking the quarry, thus burrowing deep into the flesh of the animal. The fore shaft is fitted into a cylindrical ivory socket piece which in turn is fastened to the front of a large wooden shaft. At the rear of the shaft, an ivory counterweight or “winged object” is often attached.

Over the course of approximately 1000 years spanning several different cultural periods, the basic design of the counterweight underwent a sequential evolution of design. What began as a more simple block device in the Okvik period (200 BCE – 100 CE) evolved during the Old Bering Sea III phase (300 – 500 CE) into a highly developed art form, as demonstrated by the beautiful example illustrated here.

Although other Old Bering Sea counterweights incorporate similar zoomorphic forms, here they have been greatly refined. The engraving on the outer edges of the wings possibly portray sculpins, a deep sea fish, the artist capturing their essence with two pairs of circular eyes and an overall swirling design. At the top of each wing, the head of a seal or walrus is suggested.

The streamlined sculptural form of this winged object is perfectly complimented by the flowing curves of the engraved linear designs. Working within the confines of both the functional and iconographic requirements of a harpoon counterweight, the artist has transformed a utilitarian hunting tool into a work of exceptional grace and beauty.