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Serving Spool

Serving Spool

19th century

Makah

Wooden spools hold nettle fiber cordage that was used to wrap the leader section of a whale harpoon line, that part attached to the harpoon point. Whaling equipment has to function precisely to perform this dangerous job successfully, but the making and use of such apparatus was shrouded in reverence and secrecy. Images received in the dreams and visions of the whaler were transferred to his tools: here, the ends are carved with gray whale faces.
Yew wood
2 3/16 in. (5.56 cm)
L.: 18 1/4 in.
Diam.: 2 3/8 in.
Gift of the Native Arts of the Americas and Oceania Council of the Seattle Art Museum
92.11
location
Not currently on view

Seattle Art Museum respectfully acknowledges that we are on Indigenous land, the traditional territories of the Coast Salish people. We honor our ongoing connection to these communities past, present, and future.

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