Lot 196
196
AN OLD BERING SEA ESKIMO WALRUS IVORY POLAR BEAR

Details
AN OLD BERING SEA ESKIMO WALRUS IVORY POLAR BEAR
St. Lawrence Island, Kukulik, circa 100-300 A.D.
Of elongated tapering form, massive short legs, the head bent down and forward, large drill pit at the center of one side of the torso
7¾in. (19.8cm.) long
Provenance
On long term loan to the Detroit Institute of Arts from 1984 to 1995

Lot Essay

A number of such figures in the form of stalking bears are known from the Old Bering Sea II period (see Wardwell, 1986, pp. 70-72; 75.) They may have been used as hunting amulets. This one is unusually large.