**Originally Listed At $400**
North America, Northern United States / Canada, Inuit, Yupik or Aleut people, ca. mid 20th century CE. An impressive steel cutting tool known as an ulu with a whale bone handle and bone sharpener that acts as a stand! The blade is curved with pointed tips to facilitate a rocking motion when cutting or chopping that conveniently enabled single handed use. Two short steel rods attach this blade to a thick bone grip. The bone handle is quite smooth with rounded tips and fits comfortably in the hand. Ulus came in different sizes and served many purposes. An ulu of this size was for general use such as scraping hides, chopping food, or shaping ice blocks. The bone sharpener appears to be a slightly flat piece of whale rib and is a wonderful way to display this ulu! Size: 5.65" L x 1.25" W x 4.125" H (14.4 cm x 3.2 cm x 10.5 cm); 4" H (10.2 cm) on included bone sharpener.
Provenance: private Orange County, California, USA collection acquired before 2000
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most Antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm. #143819
Condition
Blade is very sharp! Russet patina on metal areas. Minor nicks to blade. Bone grip is smooth from use with dark patina. Losses to the bone sharpener as shown. Natural ossification of the bone.