Labrets/plugs. Bird arrow point carvings and whale-shaped carving. Ivory and antler, pieced and strung on sinew. a) Whale-shaped carving b), c) bird arrow point shaped carvings d), e) nail-shaped plugs f) bird arrow pt shaped carving g) nail-shaped plug.
Donor:
Alaska Commercial Company, Benjamin Bristol, and Older University Collections
Collection place:
Alaska
Verbatim coll. place:
Alaska
Culture or time period:
Alaskan Eskimo
Collector:
unknown
Collection date:
1898
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Labrets (jewelry worn on the head)
Function:
1.6 Manufacturing, Constructing, Craft, and Professional Pursuits
Accession date:
1904
Context of use:
Nail-shaped plugs are part of a series used by Eskimo men to complete the process of enlarging the labret holdes (2) just below each corner of the mouth. After the hole is completed, the plugs are pierced at their small ends, strung on sinew, and either
Department:
Native US and Canada (except California)
Comment:
Remarks: Cf. 2-307-321 and Nelson p. 48 and Pl. XXII#25. Continued from Use context, "... certainly is, but the nail-shaped carvings are plugs.