Rare Halibut Hook, Sea Lion, by Shane Flood Baker - SOLD

Rare Halibut Hook, Sea Lion, by Shane Flood Baker - SOLD

SOLD

as always, FREE shipping to US and Canada

Have a look at this piece - it's just superb!!! ..and you don't find these often!!! Don't miss it....

Shane Flood Baker, a Squamish First Nation artist from the Northwest Coast of BC carved this absolutely incredible piece:

Halibut Hook, Sea Lion design, cedar.. and THAT Sea Lion looks like it's on a mission, don't you think? The expression says it all....

The Hook comes with a beautifully detailed and hand carved Halibut base and it’s held in place by small wooden pegs so it can be displayed nicely.

Measurements: Halibut base: 13” x 8”, Hook 8” long, 1” thick, total height in base: 8”

Wooden halibut hooks, used as an Indigenous method of catching halibut on the Northwest coast of North America mixes expert craftsmanship with spirituality. The hooks were rigged to hover near the ocean bottom where the big fish feed, tethered to a stone sinker below and to a wooden buoy or inflated seal stomach above. A human or animal image was carved on the hook to entice the fish to bite. Fishing for halibut was seen as a kind of war.

The artist tells us that the hooks are perfectly designed for how their targets feed: halibut don’t delicately nibble at their meals; rather, they suck up their prey like mini-Hoovers. If a halibut senses something undesirable in its mouth, it’ll spew it out with gusto. When that something is a barb, the act of ejecting it drives the spike deep into its maw. Escape is virtually impossible.

The practice of making halibut hooks has been handed down through generations. Carvers use their hands to determine the angles and dimensions, which some believe allows them to target fish of different sizes. A recent study exploring how and why the dimensions of hooks have changed over time found that early hooks, dating 1860 – 1930, caught fish between nine and 45 kg, sparing the juveniles and the most prolific breeders, thus sustaining the species for future generations.

To make the hooks, carvers shape two pieces of wood into arms: yellow cedar is traditionally used and halibut are apparently attracted to the smell. The pieces historically are lashed together with twine “You’ve got to tie it super-tight or the hook will come apart, the halibut will twist it around to show you that you didn’t do it right…..Herring or octopus is typically used for bait. 

Note: USD amounts estimated, based on Bank of Canada average exchange rate, updated weekly, Invoices in CAD, overseas shipping costs ($67 CAD) added at check-out.

We guarantee the authenticity of every piece of art sold through our Gallery !!! We do not offer reproductions, imported copies, cheap mass-produced, machine made or so called native-inspired/native-style knock-offs

Photos of This Piece

About This Artist

Shane Flood Baker is a member of the Squamish Nation which consists of descendants of the Coast Salish Aboriginal peoples, originating from greater Vancouver area, Gibson’s landing and Squamish River watershed.  Born in the province...Artist bio and other available works »

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