Hunter in Skin Kayak, c. 1960
Yupik Culture
seal skin, seal fur, wood, walrus ivory, wood
5” high x 22” long x 6” wide
Yup'ik and Inupiaq artifacts have a 2,000-year history, evolving from purely functional tools (harpoons, goggles) in ancient cultures to trade sculptures for whalers and tourists in the 1800's. Trade sculptures consisted of figurines, hunting scenes, animals, birds, boats and kayaks.
This model kayak and hunter is a fantastic example of a trade sculpture. The figure of the hunter, as well as the hunting implements, are not attached and can be removed from the kayak.
