Ivory whale effigy / Native American; Inuit

Essay/Description

Whale charm.

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Anthropology Item Information

©Gilcrease Museum

Title(s):

Ivory whale effigy

Culture:

Native American; Inuit

Date:

19th century

Period:

Historic

Place:

Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska

Materials/Techniques:

ivory

Classification:

Archaeological Objects

Object Type:

Whale Effigy

Accession No:

83.1751

Department:

Anthropology

Not On View

Dimensions

Overall:

Height: 1 47/100in. (3.7cm)
Width: 2 1/25in. (5.2cm)
Length: 10 7/8in. (27.6cm)

Tags and Search Terms

Tags:

Alaska, Arctic, Ceremonial, effigies, effigy, effigys, Eskimo, Indian, Indians, Native American, Saint Lawrence Island, sculpture, whale, whales

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 whale effigy. 83.1751. 19th century. Tulsa: Gilcrease Museum, https://dci-collections.gilcrease.org/object/831751 (04/19/2017).

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