Toggle in the Form of a Bear Head
| Culture | Old Bering Sea |
|---|---|
| Title | Toggle in the Form of a Bear Head |
| Date | 200 BCE–300 CE |
| Medium | Sperm whale ivory |
| Dimensions | Mount: 7/16 × 1 1/16 × 1 1/4 in. (1.1 × 2.7 × 3.2 cm) Object: 5/8 × 9/16 × 13/16 in. (1.6 × 1.4 × 2.1 cm) Overall (includes mount): 1 1/8 × 1 1/16 × 1 1/4 in. (2.9 × 2.7 × 3.2 cm) |
| Credit Line | Raymond and Laura Wielgus Collection, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 2010.44 |
| This artwork is currently off display. You may be able to see this artwork by filling out an art viewing room request. | |
A small toggle carved in the form of a bear head. The ears and facial features are lightly indicated.
The beautifully carved toggle is in the form of a delicate polar bear head. Animals such as whales, seals, and walruses were all significant to the people of the Old Bering Sea, and it is the bones and teeth of these animals that were used in the carvings.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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Cite this page
"Toggle in the Form of a Bear Head | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=2010.44