North America | Alaska
Thule seal
Alaska
Shamanic amulet / ornament
Thule Culture – Ancient Eskimo
18th century or earlier
Carved walrus tooth
Length: 1 in. – 2.5 cm
Provenance
Collection Anthony JP Meyer, Paris
Private collection, France, acquired from the above
Thule seal button 2.5 cm / Galerie Flak
Price: on request
According to Fitzhugh et Kaplan (Inua: Spirit World of the Bering Sea Eskimo, 1982 : 156), these shamanic 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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