Bag Fastener

Item number Na1107 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Data
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Description

Tapering cylinder with closely spaced incised spiral lines in 8 places along the length, widest line band at ends. Three closely spaced incised concentric rings are x'd 5 times around circumference; a single line equally off-centre to other side, is similarly x'd. Between first 3 line bands, at each end, are rows of x's. Two shallow elliptical holes, at centre, forming a channel for fastening.

History Of Use

Ivory bag fasteners are used to secure bundle bags known as 'housewives'. Women in the southern Bering Sea area use these bags to keep their awls, skin thimbles, semi-lunar knives, and long-handled scrapers. These embroidered and often beaded bags are made from caribou skin, ears, and noses or from seal throat lining and wolf-fish skin, etc.