Northwest Coast Baleen Basket with Ivory Polar Bear Head Finial
Can you guess what this basket is made from? Due to its shiny finish, many folks guess it is plastic. This beautiful basket is made of baleen, the krill-filtering material found in a whale's mouth. This is a wonderful example of utilizing all parts of an animal for food, medicines, crafts and building materials. The ivory finial is carved to represent a Polar Bear, emerging from a hole in the arctic ice.
Can you guess what this basket is made from? Due to its shiny finish, many folks guess it is plastic. This beautiful basket is made of baleen, the krill-filtering material found in a whale's mouth. This is a wonderful example of utilizing all parts of an animal for food, medicines, crafts and building materials. The ivory finial is carved to represent a Polar Bear, emerging from a hole in the arctic ice.
Can you guess what this basket is made from? Due to its shiny finish, many folks guess it is plastic. This beautiful basket is made of baleen, the krill-filtering material found in a whale's mouth. This is a wonderful example of utilizing all parts of an animal for food, medicines, crafts and building materials. The ivory finial is carved to represent a Polar Bear, emerging from a hole in the arctic ice.