Effigy of sea otter lying on its back, forepaws to chin. Elongated groove with 2 perforations on underside. Inlaid areas (quills?) on top surface. Made of carved walrus ivory.
Donor:
Alaska Commercial Company, Benjamin Bristol, and Older University Collections
Collection place:
Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Verbatim coll. place:
Alaska
Culture or time period:
Aleut
Collector:
unknown
Collection date:
1898
Taxon:
Odobenus rosmarus
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Carvings (visual works)
Function:
5.2 Magic: Objects Associated with Practices reflecting confidence in the ability to manipulate supernatural agencies
Accession date:
1904
Context of use:
Fastening cleat for kayak lines. According to Jean Paul Rousselot this also serves as an amulet - attached to kayak frame.
Department:
Native US and Canada (except California)
Dimensions:
length 8.5 centimeters
Comment:
Context of use: "See figure 10, p. 51 in Lyapunova". References: Lyapunova, R. G., 1967; "Zoomorfnaya Skul'ptura Aleutov" in "Sbornik Muzeya Antropologii, Ethnografii Akademii Nauk USSR, 24: 38 - 54, esp. p. 51, 53. Also "Art and Artefacts of the Pacific, Africa and the Americas - The James Hooper Coll." by Steven Phelps, Pl. 177, #1114 - 1115, text p. 442. Fotocopy of Lyapunova ill. in acc. env. Published: "Aleut Art", Lydia Black, p. 117. See 2-6765 for another example.
Loans:
S1982-1983 #9: California History Center, De Anza College (September 15, 1982–March 2, 1983)