Seated figure,
Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Ancient Eskimo
Marine ivory
H. 4 cm - L. 3,5 cm
Anthropomorphic seated figure, Aleutian Islands, Alaska
H. 1 ½ in - L. 1 3/8 in
Provenance:
- Former private collection, France
Rare anthropomorphic figure from the Aleutian Islands region south of the Bering Strait.
This type of carved figure was used to adorn the hats of the Arctic hunters of the area. These amulets played an important shamanic role: their beauty was intended to attract prey while paying homage to it. They assured their owner of the protection of guide spirits, a promise of a successful hunt.
An engraving made on the occasion of James Cook's Third Voyage to the North Pacific in 1778 shows an Aleut hunter whose hat is adorned with a seated figure amulet of the same type.
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