Ivory animal effigy / Native American; possibly Aleut

Essay/Description

Animal effigy made from ivory; possibly a spear guard.

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Anthropology Item Information

©Gilcrease Museum

Title(s):

Ivory animal effigy

Culture:

Native American; possibly Aleut

Date:

19th century

Period:

Historic

Place:

Kodiak Island, Uganik Bay, Alaska

Materials/Techniques:

ivory

Classification:

Archaeological Objects

Object Type:

Animal Effigy

Accession No:

83.1287

Department:

Anthropology

Not On View

Dimensions

Overall:

Height: 1 1/10in. (2.8cm)
Width: 1 9/50in. (3.0cm)
Length: 2 19/32in. (6.6cm)

Tags and Search Terms

Tags:

Alaska, Arctic, effigies, effigy, effigys, Eskimo, implements, Indian, Indians, Kodiak Island, Native American, sculpture, tools, Uganik Bay

The Inuit believe that every living creature has a soul and that soul is “a tiny replica of the being it inhabits” and lives in the bladder (Furst and Furst 1982, 141). As a result, many miniature ivory effigies of animals and people have been produced and the Inuit place significant importance on the returning of seal bladders to the ocean to produce more seals (Furst and Furst 1982, 141).

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Cite this Page

Ivory animal effigy. 83.1287. 19th century. Tulsa: Gilcrease Museum, https://dci-collections.gilcrease.org/object/831287 (04/19/2017).

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