Alaskan Antiquities

OBS Anonymous, Collection of harpoon points, shafts, and tools, OBS

Not for sale. A collection of Old Bering Sea tools, including harpoon points, socket pieces and ritual bowls, found together. These almost certainly were the tools of one hunter.

03160-2

OBS Anonymous, Hand and whale on chain, Ipiutaq

ivory, 4 x 1/2 x 1/2 in. (10.2 x 1.3 x 1.3 cm)

An amulet in the form of a human hand is joined to an amulet in the form of a whale's head by a single link. There is an incised star on the back of the hand. All parts have a uniform, deep brown patina. See Wardwell, Ancient Eskimo Ivories of the Bering Strait (1986), plate 154 for a similar object. Wardwell writes, 'The Ipiutak created a wide variety of animal figures, including polar bear, walrus, seal and bird forms,as well as chains and the openwork spiral carvings unique to them. Although no pure representations of the human figure are known, a few sculptures combine human and animal forms.'

01215-1

OBS Anonymous, Harpoon socket piece decorated with walruses, OBS II

Fossilized ivory, 7 1/2 x 1 3/4 x 1 in. (19.1 x 4.5 x 2.5 cm)

Cf. Toggle in the form of a sculpin, Wardwell fig. 76.

01178-1

OBS Anonymous, Large butterfly counterweight, Early Punuk

Fossilized walrus ivory, 6 x 1 7/8 in. (15.2 x 7.3 cm)

See Gifts from the Ancestors, Fig. III.4, 23g

00284-2

OBS Anonymous, Tattooed torso, Okvik

Fossilized ivory, 5 1/2 x 2 1/4 x 1 in. (14 x 5.7 x 2.5 cm)

01200-1

Alaskan Antiquities Anonymous, Walrus, Old Bering Sea

Fossilized ivory, 2 in. (5.1 cm)

01658-1

19th/20th C Alaskan Anonymous, YUP’IK MASKETTE WITH INSET LABRETS collected in Uksuqalleq, Alaska, ex coll. William Johnstone

6 x 4 1/8 in.

This classic maskette bears signs of wear on the inside. The outside shows numerous chisel marks. SOLD

03522-2