Chunky Large Ball in Cage Whimsy welded There is a strong Inuit

There is a strong Inuit tradition of carving human and owl faces from whale vertebrae

with tiny nicks and scratches all over

Known most commonly as Froebel Blocks

1940s or so I'd think

The three dark ones I think are ebony

Chunky Large Ball in Cage Whimsy welded There is a strong InuitI like the idea of a whimsy collection that would span from the crudest to the most refined, with this one landing toward the left end of that scale. The opposite of precious, it would be a fine one to let the kids play with, but I might keep it one the desk myself, as it's a satisfying one to hold and rattle (and maybe also throw!) around. 5 3 4" l x 2 1 4" w x 2 1 8"d and in good, super solid and sturdy condition with some age to it for sure.