See more objects with the tag fish, food preparation, rounded, water, hunting, fishing, tool, work, food, rope, sharp, pointed, octopus.

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Object Timeline

	We acquired this object.
-0001	We photographed this object.
1909	Work on this object began.
2014	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Octopus Lure (USA)

This is a Octopus lure.

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from National Museum of Natural History as part of Tools: Extending Our Reach.

It is dated Before 1909. Its medium is cowrie shell, worked stone, carved wood, cord, lashing.

Hawaiian octopus lures are tools of trickery, as a well-formed cowrie shell was said to attract an octopus like a beautiful woman arouses desire in a man. The lures, leho he`e, were used for fishing in water from 80 to 120 fathoms (146.4–219.6 m [480–720 ft.]) deep and were often used in pairs. They were shaken up and down, and this merry dancing attracted the octopus, which encircled it with its tentacles. Besides catching food, acquiring octopus in this manner was an aristocratic sport, and different kinds of cowrie shells were used during different parts of the day. This lure was collected by Nathaniel B. Emerson, who organized the Hawaiian section of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle in 1909. At the end of the Exposition the collection was purchased by the US government and became part of the Smithsonian Institution collection.

It is credited Collected by Dr. Nathaniel B. Emerson, exhibited at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle, Washington, in 1909, Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, E257827.

Fishhook (Solomon Islands)
carved turtle shell, mother-of-pearl, glass beads, fiber cord.
Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian....
15.2012.17

Halibut Hook (USA)
carved wood, cord.
Collection of John J. McLean, 1881, Baranof Island, Alaska, Department of....
15.2012.49

Fishhook (USA)
whale tooth, cord.
Collected by Dr. Nathaniel B. Emerson, exhibited at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific....
15.2012.45

Our curators have highlighted 6 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

A fine dark red encircling fishing net made of machine manufactured tetoron polyester which consists of pairs of twisted threads that connect to form the net by crossing through each other in a series of repeating diamonds. The net is folded in a series of rippling bulges to show the strength and lightness of the polyester yarn and the fact that it is entirely knotless. In the mid-lower right is a small black rectangle that is filled with multi-colored squares of white, deep blue, orange, brown, green, peach, red, grey, pale blue, yellow, purple, magenta, lime, lilac, cyan, gold and turquoise.

Fishing Net, Encircling Fishing Net
polyester.
Gift of Toray Industries, Inc..
2003-22-1

Octopus and Sea Star Matchsafe
silver.
Gift of Stephen W. Brener and Carol B. Brener.
1978-146-476

with Pocket Knife Matchsafe
silver, gilding, metal.
Gift of Stephen W. Brener and Carol B. Brener.
1978-146-1267

Its dimensions are

H x W: 11.4 x 19.7 x 7.6 cm (4 1/2 in. x 7 3/4 in. x 3 in.); 28 in. line attached

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Tools: Extending Our Reach.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/4941B/
Accession Number 15.2012.43
Object ID 35520511