North America | Alaska
Thule figure
Alaska
Thule Culture
Ancient Eskimo
1200 – 1700 AD
Marine ivory
Height: 4.8 cm – 1 ¾ in.
Provenance
Excavated in Port Clarence, Alaska
Ex collection Jeffrey Myers, New York
Ex private collection, France
Ex collection Galerie Flak, Paris
Ex collection Guy Porré & Nathalie Chaboche, acquired from the above
Minute Thule figure 4.8 cm / Galerie Flak
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.
Publication
Explore the entire collection
