Figurine, Hunter - Suaruangcuk
Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center > Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center Alutiiq/Sugpiaq Ethnographic Collection
1997.036.021ae
Ivory
Height: 1.25"
Width: 1"
Length: 2.25"
19th century
Alutiiq
Kodiak, AK (attributed), ca. 1880. Hugh H. McIntyre (1844-1906), the donor's grandfather, served as a special U.S. Treasurer's agent for Alaska (from 1868-1870) before becoming the Superintendent of Alaska seal fisheries for the Alaska Commercial Company (from 1871-1890). McIntyre was stationed in the Bering sea region, chiefly on the Pribilof Islands.
Gift of Hugh H. and Eleanor E. McIntyre
A walrus ivory carving of a hunter made of the following pieces:
(A) kayak (bidarka);
(B) hunter torso, with one arm, which pegs into a hole in the kayak;
(C) an arm, which falls out of its hole easily;
(D) harpoon with a bladder float near the end;
(E) double bladed paddle, which may or may not be part of this set.
The harpoon has a tiny projecting peg which fits into a hole along the left proper side of the hunter; and there is a projecting peg from the center of the rear deck, to attach an unknown piece, possibly the paddle.
The figure's eyes are denoted by two tiny drilled holes; the nose is carved in the round, and the mouth is an incised slit. The haircut is vertically grooved and outlined in black pigment; the figure wears a flat Euro-American cap with a short brim.
The kayak is outlined by incised lines which contain red pigment. The boat is not carved to scale. The harpoon has three incised red lines, and is 3.4cm long; the double bladed paddle is 5.2cm long. The arm, which is bent at the elbow to form a right angle, has an hand bent to hold a paddle; so does the other arm.
The type of bifurcated bow indicates that this piece is Alutiiq, possibly from Kodiak.
The collection as a whole consists of coastal Alaska Native objects, none of which show any wear, indicating that they are probably market art pieces.