1921.11.3

Collection type

Object

Description

Man's hooded coat of seal-skin.

Geographical reference

Canada

Northern America > North America > Canada

Northwest Territories Coronation Gulf Dolphin and Union Strait

Cultural groups

Inuit (Greenland)

Inuit

Inuinnait

Person

Field collector Diamond Jenness

Field collector Stef Expedition

PRM source Diamond Jenness

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1921

Date collected

1921

Acquisition information

Donated: 1921

Materials and processes

Material Seal Skin Animal, Process Stitched

Dimensions

Length: max 1300 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1921.11.3

Research and responses

Diamond Jenness was a member of the Canadian Arctic Expedition Southern Party from 1913-1916. It was lead by Vilhjalmur Stefensson with second in command Rudolph Anderson. The clothing was probably collected between 1913 and 1916. (http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0001259 accessed 7th July 2009). Bernadette Driscoll Engelstad, who examined Jenness’ clothing (1921.11.1-8) in July 2009, commented that Copper Inuit had two sets of clothing, those used for everyday and another set of ceremonial dance and social clothing. Jenness was adopted by an older couple Higilak and Ilatsiak. She had Shaman powers and he was headman. It is possible that Higilak made the dance boots for Jenness. A photograph of Higilak and Ilatsiak is the frontispiece of People of the Twilight (1928) by Diamond Jenness. [MJD 16/07/2009]

Bernadette Driscoll Engelstad looked at this object on display during her research visit in July 2009. She said the seal skin coat is unique. Seal skin is rarely used for coats – or at least it is not represented in museum collections. It may have been a rain coat, rather than a coat for warmth. It may have been a spring weather coat. [MJD 16/07/2009]

Search terms: Clothing, Coat