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Description

Two whalebone daggers. A) The dagger has a rounded pommel end with the head of a creature which has rounded eyes and an open mouth, it is possibly a seal, an otter or a worm. The handle has been wrapped in a piece of fur covered leather, some of the fur has worn away. The blade of the dagger has three grooves running down its length. The back of the dagger is undecorated. B) A whalebone dagger with the head of a creature carved onto the elongated pommel. The creature resembles a shark, with many gill slits on its forehead, down turned eyes and mouth, the mouth however does not have the characteristic pointed teeth. The handle has been wrapped with newspaper, bound in place with a length of leather thong. The newspaper is very decrepit and the thong is loose. The blade has a slightly raised undecorated section, and three grooves running down its length. The back of the dagger is undecorated.; Good

Context

Given the overall similarity of shape of these whalebone daggers to the metal ones made by the Tlingit it is possible to give them a tentative provenance of Tlingit. Watts also collected a spruce root basket 1930.1132 which is also Tlingit (G.Crowther). In 1994 Dr George MacDonald, of the Canadian Museum of Civilisation, suggested that the daggers were used in mock battles undertaken by shaman to capture the lost soul of the sick person. The original European tribal names and, where possible, current tribal names have both been given in separate GLT fields.; The catalogue card notes the daggers were made for tourists. However Dr Erna Gunther of Seattle noted in 1952 that the daggers were not produced for tourists. Also she noted that the newspaper on the grip of B) is from Philadelphia and has a wedding notice of 1890 on it. Unfortunately it appears the dated part of the newspaper has disintegrated at this point in time (28041993). Interestingly the shape of these daggers is very similar in form to those made from metal by the Tlingit. The metal daggers have a crest on the pommel, a constricted handle, and a blade with three grooves or fluting running down the centre. This suggests the whalebone version of the daggers is a skeuomorph. The metal daggers were prized personal possessions of Tlingit men, decorated with their crest, and recognized as clan wealth. They were worn in a hanging sheath, and only taken off at night. It is uncertain whether these daggers pre-dated those made from metal (G.Crowther).; Collected by: Watts.J.C in ?1890