Stylized Harpoon Head

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Historically, Alaska Natives carved decorative items for everyday use such as ulu handles, bow drills and harpoons.  In hunting implements in particular, it was believed that the animal spirits would be drawn to the beautiful designs and approve of the hunt.  Iya draws from this long tradition in his stylized version of a harpoon head.  The main body of the piece of carved from walrus ivory and the point from baleen.  He uses a decoration motif very similar to the Old Bering Sea era.  Dashed and solid lines run along the curves of the harpoon head to accentuate and alter the solid form of the piece.  The abstract lines and dots loosely form the shapes of birds' heads, another feature of Old Bering Sea style and an additional tie to Native Alaskan myths.