Scrimshawed Bone Pendant with Eskimo Pictographs 1
Boone Trading Company
$15.00
Boone Trading Company
$15.00
Description
This handcrafted bone pendant (and matching cord) has contemporary scrimshaw of traditional Eskimo designs. Some of the scenes appeared to be hunting tallies with rows of caribou, seal and walrus. Others represented activity such as hunting, fishing, dancing, warfare, village scenes and shamanistic ceremonies. The arrival of the Yankee whaling fleet in the late 1800's signaled the end of this early art style among the Eskimos as the whaler man's scrimshaw influenced them to create more realistic depictions. Although primitive in form, this fascinating early stick figure artwork is extremely powerful and has a universal appeal today.