King Island, Alaska, Inuit
19th century or before
Walrus ivory
Length 1 3/4" (4.4 cm); width 3/4" (1.9 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Maine
Toggles of this type fastened lines and garments along the Bering Strait coast, combining practical function with imagery drawn from the natural and spiritual world of Inuit hunters. The polar bear was among the most significant animals in King Island Inuit life, a powerful presence in both the physical environment and the ceremonial imagination of the community. The pairing of a bear with a separately carved human hand introduces a layer of meaning that draws on the close and complex relationship between humans and animals in Inuit cosmology.
This toggle is carved as a polar bear with bared teeth, incised brows, and inlaid blue eyes, the body worked to a smooth rounded form consistent with King Island ivory production of the 19th century or earlier. A separately carved hand is fitted to the reverse and can be drawn out from the piece, an unusual and inventive feature that distinguishes this toggle from standard production. The ivory has developed a warm patina through age and handling, and provenance traces to a private collection in Maine.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
King Island, Alaska, Inuit
19th century or before
Walrus ivory
Length 1 3/4" (4.4 cm); width 3/4" (1.9 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Maine
Toggles of this type fastened lines and garments along the Bering Strait coast, combining practical function with imagery drawn from the natural and spiritual world of Inuit hunters. The polar bear was among the most significant animals in King Island Inuit life, a powerful presence in both the physical environment and the ceremonial imagination of the community. The pairing of a bear with a separately carved human hand introduces a layer of meaning that draws on the close and complex relationship between humans and animals in Inuit cosmology.
This toggle is carved as a polar bear with bared teeth, incised brows, and inlaid blue eyes, the body worked to a smooth rounded form consistent with King Island ivory production of the 19th century or earlier. A separately carved hand is fitted to the reverse and can be drawn out from the piece, an unusual and inventive feature that distinguishes this toggle from standard production. The ivory has developed a warm patina through age and handling, and provenance traces to a private collection in Maine.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
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