Eskimo Seagrass Basket and Ivory Bola Stone Set of 2

Late 19th Century

3.125" H x 6.25" D - Seagrass Basket, 1" H x 2.375" L x 1" W - Ivory Bola

Hand Built with Seagrass with a Golden Tan Field and a Blackened Bottom with an Ivory Bola with a Tiny Bit of Hide Leather Tied to the Hole in the Bola

In Very Good Condition

Inuit/Yupik (Alaskan Eskimo) Seagrass Baskets artisans traditionally weave these from beach rye grass or similar seagrass using a coiled technique. They often feature tight, fine weaving with geometric patterns, dyed elements (red, black, or natural tones), and sometimes lids or handles. Sizes vary from small decorative/trinket baskets to larger storage bowls. Many date from the early-to-mid 20th century or earlier, collected from Alaskan villages.

Traditional Inuit bolas (also called qilumitautit or similar terms in Inuit languages) are a specialized throwing weapon designed primarily for hunting birds, especially waterfowl like eider ducks or geese in flight. Unlike the more famous South American bolas (boleadoras), which typically use three heavy stone or metal weights to entangle the legs of running animals like rheas or guanacos on the ground, Inuit versions focus on aerial entanglement: the cords foul the bird's wings or body, and the weights' momentum pulls it down.