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Inuit. <em>Kayak with Buoy, Two Figures, and a Seal</em>, 1950–1980. Stone, wood, rawhide bands, bone remnants, a (kayak): 1 1/2 x 2 x 14 in. (3.8 x 5.1 x 35.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Hilda and Al Schein Collection, 2004.79.17a-g. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.2004.79.17a-g.jpg)
Inuit. Kayak with Buoy, Two Figures, and a Seal, 1950–1980. Stone, wood, rawhide bands, bone remnants, a (kayak): 1 1/2 x 2 x 14 in. (3.8 x 5.1 x 35.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Hilda and Al Schein Collection, 2004.79.17a-g. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.2004.79.17a-g.jpg)
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Kayak with Buoy, Two Figures, and a Seal

Arts of the Americas

These six objects reflect the importance of hunting to Arctic peoples. For millennia, Indigenous communities have not only relied on animals for sustenance but also incorporated parts of them, such as tusks and hide,into a variety of art forms.

Some objects, like the fishing lures displayed here, were produced for personal use, while the three stone sculptures were made to be sold. Of the commercial objects, the walrus figurine and the hunters in a model kayak are naturalistic, while the sculpture of a shaman transforming into a seal is enigmatic and likely depicts a creation story.
This text refers to these objects: 2004.79.17a-g; 2004.79.13
CULTURE Inuit
MEDIUM Stone, wood, rawhide bands, bone remnants
  • Place Made: Canada
    • DATES 1950–1980
    DIMENSIONS a (kayak): 1 1/2 x 2 x 14 in. (3.8 x 5.1 x 35.6 cm) b (buoy): 1 1/4 x 1 3/8 x 5/8 in. (3.2 x 3.5 x 1.6 cm) c (figure one): 2 1/2 x 1 1/4 x 1 3/4 in. (6.4 x 3.2 x 4.4 cm) d (figure two): 2 5/8 x 1 1/4 x 1 7/8 in. (6.7 x 3.2 x 4.8 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas
    ACCESSION NUMBER 2004.79.17a-g
    CREDIT LINE Hilda and Al Schein Collection
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Two-person stone kayak with pointed bow and stern; cutout paddle-holes to hold two wooden paddles (each paddle is broken); rawhide strips through kayak (2 at front, 1 at middle, and 1 at back); miscellaneous wood strips under back and front; wood peg in front to hold dead stone seal; wood peg at back to hold stone buoy with rawhide strip around neck; 'Figure 1' with arms and legs outstretched; and 'Figure 2' with arms clasped together and legs outstretched. Condition: good. Eskimo art label: artist name partially covered by label and "E-56." [Parts include: a(kayak)= 1 1/2 x 2 x 14 in.; b(buoy)= 1 1/4 x 1 3/8 x 5/8 in.; c(figure one)= 2 1/2 x 1 1/4 x 1 3/4 in.; d(figure two)= 2 5/8 x 1 1/4 x 1 7/8 in.; e(seal)= 3/4 x 5/8 x 2 5/8 in.; f(paddle)= 6 x 3/8 x 1/32 in.; and g(paddle)= 6 x 3/8 x 1/32 in.]
    EXHIBITIONS
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Inuit. Kayak with Buoy, Two Figures, and a Seal, 1950–1980. Stone, wood, rawhide bands, bone remnants, a (kayak): 1 1/2 x 2 x 14 in. (3.8 x 5.1 x 35.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Hilda and Al Schein Collection, 2004.79.17a-g. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.2004.79.17a-g.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, CUR.2004.79.17a-g.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2010
    "CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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    Inuit. <em>Kayak with Buoy, Two Figures, and a Seal</em>, 1950–1980. Stone, wood, rawhide bands, bone remnants, a (kayak): 1 1/2 x 2 x 14 in. (3.8 x 5.1 x 35.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Hilda and Al Schein Collection, 2004.79.17a-g. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.2004.79.17a-g.jpg)

    TAGS

    Boat

    TAGS

    Boat

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