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1884.68.28

Ivory implement, possibly an awl or boot creaser, ornamented with carved bear head at the top, engraved with reindeer [SM (Verve) 12/05/2014]

On display

1884.68.28

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Collection type
Object
Description
Ivory implement, possibly an awl or boot creaser, ornamented with carved bear head at the top, engraved with reindeer [SM (Verve) 12/05/2014]
Cultural groups
Inuit (Greenland)
Inuit
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1884
Date collected
?1826 1827
Acquisition information
Donated: 1884
Materials and processes
Material Animal Ivory Tooth, Process Carved, Process Incised, Process Decorated
Dimensions
Length: max 170 mm, Width 12 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1884.68.28 PR Cat other PR nos: 2129
Research and responses

In Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum Pitt Rivers ms collections there is a handwritten list [P141] headed 'A catalogue of M.General [sic - Major General] Pitt Rivers' Anthropological Collection Objects illustrating Animal Form conventionalised in Ornamentation from different countries' which seems to be a list of all items which were associated with the display entitled 'Illustrations of Human and Animal form Cases 92 - 93' in Bethnal Green and South Kensington Museums. A photocopy of this list is held by Alison Petch [AP 23/03/2005]

Observations provided by research visitors from Wales and Kotzebue Sound, Alaska. 23.1.2008. This object is likely to be an awl, used in sewing to make holes bigger, and a burnisher for skins. This information was provided by research visitors from Wales and Kotzebue Sound, Alaska. 23.1.2008 [SM 24/01/2008]

A photograph of this object was examined by Amber Lincoln in December 2008. She believes this object is likely to be used as a boot sole creaser and recommended the following articles:

Bockstoce 1977 Eskimos of Northwest Alaska in the Early 19th Century, Pitt Rivers Museum Monograph series no.1, 1977.

E.W. Nelson, 'The Eskimo About Bering Strait,' 18th Annual Report of the US Bureau of American Ethnology 1896-97. Washington, DC: US Government Printing office, 1899. [SM 21/04/2009]

Associated publications
Bockstoce, 1977: 97 'Ivory implement with flat blade with bear head end and engraved reindeer. Coll at Icy Cape' [AP Leverhulme project on founding collection 1995-1998]

Search terms: Figure, Tool, Animal Figure, Leather-working Tool, Awl

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