Ivory seal effigy / Arctic, Inuit

Essay/Description

Five ivory seal effigies tied together.

Each individually numbered (should have only one number): 83.1342, 83.1343, 83.1344, 83.1345, 83.1346

Toggles

You may be interested in...

Wooden bowl with carved ivory whale decoration

Ivory projectile point

Ivory labret

Anthropology Item Information

©Gilcrease Museum

Title(s):

Ivory seal effigy

Culture:

Arctic, Inuit

Date:

1800s

Period:

Historic

Materials/Techniques:

Ivory

Classification:

Archaeological Objects

Object Type:

Seal Effigy

Accession No:

83.1342

Previous Number(s):

83.1342-6

Department:

Anthropology

Collection:

Kravis Discovery Center

Not On View

Dimensions

Overall:

Height: 0 11/25in. (1.1cm)
Width: 0 21/50in. (1.1cm)
Length: 1 71/100in. (4.3cm)

Tags and Search Terms

Tags:

Alaska, Arctic, Ceremonial, effigies, effigy, effigys, Eskimo, Indian, Indians, Native American, rituals (events), sculpture

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).

» View All

Cite this Page

Ivory seal effigy. 83.1342. Kravis Discovery Center. 1800s. Tulsa: Gilcrease Museum, https://collections.gilcrease.org/object/831342 (06/23/2017).

Our Online Collections site is a work in progress. If you have information about this item that may be of assistance, please contact us.

Gilcrease Museum is temporarily closed for construction.

Gilcrease Museum

The World’s Largest Collection of Art and Artifacts of the American West