Alaskan Carvings
Off the northwest coast of ALASKA, 32 miles from Siberia, lies St. Lawrence Island, where 1,000 Siberian Yupik Eskimos live in two villages. During a few short weeks in the spring and fall, they are legally allowed to hunt walrus and whales for subsistence. During the winter the people spend most of their time indoors, carving ivory and whalebone to generate income. These people live much the same life as their ancestors, and their art has played an important part in allowing them to maintain their culture and lifestyle.
For more information about St. Lawrence Island and how the ivory is gathered, click here . |  | |
Figurative pendant carved from Walrus ivory with an inset abalone eye. This NW coast amulet would make a beautiful tribal necklace or a fetish for your collection. Measures 2 inches long.
Yup'ik carver Melcher Oozevesook has carved and painted this King Eider out of Walrus ivory. Measuring 2 1/4 inches long.
Archie Slwooko is a Yupik native who carves Walrus ivory, like many of his fellow tribe members. The fossilized ivory of Walrus tusk, old whale bones and whale baleen are used to create these mammals of the NW coast.
Alaskan carver Robert Apatiki carves Walrus tusk. This sweet little walrus has fossilized tusks, a baleen stand and a detailed carved body. There is also a baby Walrus behind the mother.
Carved out of fossilized Walrus tusk and mounted on to a fossilized whale bone. This eagle has a fresh catch in it's beak, the fish is as detailed as the feathers on the eagle. The bottom is signed with the initials LBI.
Call it a knife or a scraper this hand made utilitarian, blade was probably used to process walrus or whale. It measures 12 inches long and comes in a leather sheath.
North West coast figure dressed in a coat trimmed in seal skin. A small sculptural person standing 2 1/4 inches tall.
Shaman Whale Hunters Pendant- shows a male Yupik on one side and two whales on the other side swimming in opposite directions. Beautiful carved detail gives this 1 3/4 inch pendant a sculptural quality. Carver Moses Soonagrook is from Gambell St. Lawrence Island. Walrus ivory carvers from this area are some of the most skilled carvers in Alaska.
