AN ESKIMO WALRUS IVORY FLOAT PLUG

Details
AN ESKIMO WALRUS IVORY FLOAT PLUG

Disk shaped with human face on one side, slanted oval eyes downturned mouth, stippling on cheeks, slotted rim, on the back side three concentric circles, 1½in. (4cm.) long

Lot Essay

Such ivory disks were used to plug holes in seal skin flots where teh legs andhed were removed. They represent spirits to bring success in hunting. This is an unusually large and early example. See Fitzhugh and Kaplan (1982, p. 82,fig. 62) for three examples from the historical period.