Native American, Pacific Northwest/Arctic, either Inuit or Yupik, ca. early 20th century CE. A fascinating pair of snow goggles skillfully hand-carved from a caribou bone to fit the wearer's face with a rectangular form, a corseted mid-section, and a narrow, horizontal slits in order to improve the wearer's visual acuity by reducing the glare - a piece of technology traditionally used by people of the Arctic to protect from snow blindness. A pair of annular perforations flank the fascinating implement, allowing to be strapped to one's face using string, cloth, or hide. Lovely decorations comprised of incised striations adorn the front. Size: 6" L x 1.375" W (15.2 cm x 3.5 cm)
Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection
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#160968
Condition
Intact and excellent with nice patina and rich earthen deposits creating a sparkle effect due to mineral deposits.