Spotted seal with heart-shaped, owl-like head; wood body black with white spots. Possibly represents what Nelson calls a "mermaid-like creature.
Donor:
Alaska Commercial Company, Benjamin Bristol, and Older University Collections
Collection place:
Pastolik, Wade Hampton Borough, Alaska
Verbatim coll. place:
Alaska; Pastolik
Culture or time period:
Alaskan Eskimo
Collector:
unknown
Collection date:
1898
Object type:
ethnography
Function:
5.2 Magic: Objects Associated with Practices reflecting confidence in the ability to manipulate supernatural agencies
Accession date:
1904
Context of use:
This is a wooden carving of a fur seal with an owl head, who were extremely important to Native Alaskan material culture for their tough and water-resistant skin, and their meat was a staple of Native Alaskan sustenance. Usually they were stunned or clubbed, the dispatching of seals was sometimes seen as unethical and another example of Russian exploitation.
Department:
Native US and Canada (except California)
Dimensions:
length 10.2 centimeters
Comment:
Context of use: Nelson pp. 447-8.
Loans:
S1945-1946 #4: Winfield Scott Wellington (March 11, 1946–October 28, 1955)