Description:

North Pacific, Hawaiian Islands, Pre- to Post-Contact era, ca. 16th to 19th century CE. A pair of stone and shell tools that once made up a fishing lure for capturing octopus. The volcanic brown stone is carved into a "bread loaf" shape, the upper surface rounded and top heavy, with a grooved ridge underneath. The cowrie shell is left mostly in its natural state - with only 2 small piercings at either end for mounting to the stone sinker via a wood or bone hook with cords. Cowrie snails are octopi's prey, and thus make the perfect bait to lure the curious animals in for a seemingly easy meal. Octopus lures were used by dipping the hook into shallow water and shaking it up and down in a rhythmic motion to entice an octopus to wrap its tentacles around the hook end. The fisherman would then rapidly pull the lure upward to pierce the creature's hard beak, soft body, or one of its many tentacles. Size of stone sinker: 2.5" L x 1.5" W x 1.5" H (6.4 cm x 3.8 cm x 3.8 cm)

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, before 2010

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#173827

  • Condition: Loss to interior lip of shell. Surface wear consistent with use and rubbing of lure rope. Old inventory number on lip. Stone sinker is intact with old inventory number on surface.

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August 4, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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