Halibut hook
Wood, bone, metal, fiber
H: 31.5; W: 14.5; D: 5 cm
Gift of Faith-dorian and Martin Wright, New York, to American Friends of the Israel Museum, in memory of Abraham Janoff
Accession number:
B79.0750
Arts/Americas
This elaborately carved fishhook was used to catch the large, bottom-feeding halibut. To ensure a successful hunt, the hooks were decorated with the image of a powerful predator. In this case, the hook is carved in the form of a bear, a crest commonly used by the peoples of the Northwest Coast. The Bear Clan's origins are depicted on the Kwakiutl totem pole.
