Bone carving of sea monster; composite animal with seal-like body and rear flippers with front flippers in low relief; head is anthropomorphic with wolf-like ears; red stain on head and rear flipper.
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
Materials:
Paint (coating)
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:
are Aleut sculptings of mythological creatures most likely used for decoration such as being put on a kayak. Ivory sculpting was a male art, while females made textiles and basketry. Most of the time therianthropic art was abstract. Sea lions were also a part of therianthropy as they were believed to have been transformed men who were lured away by birds who would transform their families by persuading them to don sea lion skins as well. Patterns or color of a sea lion skin indicate kin.
Department:
Native US and Canada (except California)
Dimensions:
length 8 centimeters
Loans:
S1962-1963 #61: Department of Anthropology (UC Berkeley)/Vincent Evans (June 24, 1963–June 24, 1963) and S1964-1965 #9: University of California, Davis (September 3, 1964–January 1965)