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Bowl. 19th century
Bowl. 19th century
Number
МАЭ № 2539-22
Title
Ethnicity
The Alutiiq
Date
19th century
Expedition
Russian circumnavigations and half round-the-world sea expeditions
Collectors-person
Unknown
Material
wood, paint, dentalium shell
Dimensions
length 29 cm, width 23.5 cm, height 12 cm
Annotation
The inner surface of the bowl is carved on both sides with stylized depictions of seal heads. The eyes of the animals are represented by horizontal lines with nostrils carved below. Nostrils are a typical means of portraying a seal (see No. 562—2). In order to breathe, a seal raises only the upper part of its head out of the water, draws in a breath and dives under water. Perhaps this is a portrayal of Imam Sua, the mistress of sea animals.
Corpus
Ethnography of America
Albums
Bowl in the shape of a merganser duck
Bowl. 19th century