North America | Alaska
Throwing Board
Alaska
Inuit spear-thrower (atlatl)
Carved wood, marine ivory
Early 20th century or earlier
Height: 13 ¼ in. (34 cm)
Ex collection Finch & Co, London
Exhibited & published: A la découverte de la culture Inuit, Cannes,
Centre d’Art de la Malmaison, 2017
Inuit spear-thrower 34 cm / Galerie Flak
Price on request
As stated by Richard Van der Hoek in his thesis “Atlatl and Dart” (University of Anchorage, Alaska,1992), the spear-thrower is a stick or board used to propel a spear or dart for hunting or warfare. It is called an "atlatl" in the Americas, and a "throwing board" in the Arctic. The end of the spear would fit into the base of the board. The hunter grasped the handle and drew the entire instrument back over his shoulder, propelling the spear forward with a snap of his wrist and with great accuracy.
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