A type of plug. Nail-shapeed piece of ivory. Pierced at tapered end and strung on sinew.
Donor:
Phoebe Apperson Hearst
Collection place:
Northwest Bering Sea, Alaska
Verbatim coll. place:
Alaska; Northwest Bering Sea
Culture or time period:
Alaskan Eskimo
Collector:
Charles L. Hall
Collection date:
ca. 1895
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Labrets (jewelry worn on the head)
Accession date:
August 12, 1902
Context of use:
Part of series used by Eskimo man to complete the process of enlarging the labret holes (2) just below the corner of the mouth. After the hole is completed, the labrets are pierced at small ends, strung on sinew, and kept among his small effects.
Department:
Native US and Canada (except California)
Dimensions:
length 2.3 centimeters
Comment:
References: Cf. Nelson p. 48 and Pl XXII#23 and 25.