Two mother-of-pearl fishhooks, Gambier Islands archipelago, French Polynesia Height: 3.3 and 6 cm Mother-of-pearl. Finely crafted from mother-of-pearl, these fishhooks attest to the mastery of Polynesian artisans in harnessing marine resources. Their natural luster made them a particularly effective lure for fishing. Provenance: John Giltsoff Gallery, Brussels. See: Bonhams, New York, May 12, 2012, lot 95, for a specimen comparable to the larger hook.