North America | Alaska
Anthropomorphic figure
Alaska
Ipiutaq or Punuk culture
Ancient Eskimo
Probably 500-900 AD
Marine ivory
Height: 7.2 cm – 2 ¾ in.
Provenance
Ex collection Jeffrey Myers, New York
Ex collection Anthony JP Meyer, Paris
Ex collection Guy Porré & Nathalie Chaboche, acquired from above
Exhibited and published
TEFAF 2019, Maastricht, Galerie Meyer
Sold
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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