Walrus
1950-1980
Inuit
Arts of the Americas
These six objects reflect the importance of hunting to Arctic peoples. For millennia, Indigenous communities have not only relied on animals for sustenance but also incorporated parts of them, such as tusks and hide,into a variety of art forms.
Some objects, like the fishing lures displayed here, were produced for personal use, while the three stone sculptures were made to be sold. Of the commercial objects, the walrus figurine and the hunters in a model kayak are naturalistic, while the sculpture of a shaman transforming into a seal is enigmatic and likely depicts a creation story.
Some objects, like the fishing lures displayed here, were produced for personal use, while the three stone sculptures were made to be sold. Of the commercial objects, the walrus figurine and the hunters in a model kayak are naturalistic, while the sculpture of a shaman transforming into a seal is enigmatic and likely depicts a creation story.
- Maker/Artist
- Inuit
- Classification
- Sculpture
- Formatted Medium
- Soapstone, ivory
- Locations
- Place made: Canada
- Dimensions
- 2 1/4 x 1 3/4 x 4 in. (5.7 x 4.4 x 10.2 cm)
- Departments
- Arts of the Americas
- Accession Number
- 2004.79.13
- Credit Line
- Hilda and Al Schein Collection
- Rights Statement
- Creative Commons-BY
- Museum Location
- Arts of the Americas Galleries, 5th Floor
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