North America | Alaska
Thule figure
Alaska
Thule Culture (Ancient Eskimo)
18th century or earlier
Marine ivory
Height: 4.8 cm – 1 ¾ in.
Excavated at Port Clarence, Alaska
Ex collection Jeffrey Myers, New York
Ex private collection, France
Thule Figure 4.8 cm / Galerie Flak
Price on request
According to Fitzhugh & Kaplan (Inua: Spirit World of the Bering Sea Eskimo, 1982 : 156), these carved figurines were carved for several purposes: to stand in for people absent from the village during festivals, to avert infertility, or else to focus the attention of animal inua (spirit) during the Doll Festival, which was held to bless hunting and fishing expeditions in the coming year.
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