Blade Box Item Number: Na1116 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Stylized walrus-shaped curved box with attached stylized bird-shaped lid. Oval cavity is roughly finished. Exterior surfaces are smooth and stained brown. Hinged lid is attached by an ivory peg and is sandwiched between curved extensions to oval container. Multi-bevelled, tapering cylinders of ivory project toward lid from extensions. The effect is of walrus tusks with the hinge peg forming eyes. The lid is oval with concave bottom and tapering head-like extension. The container tapers to a point paralleling the lid. The hinge is very stiff.

History Of Use

Blade boxes are used for storing spear or harpoon points.

Cultural Context

hunting