Four Polar Bears

Four Polar Bears
Fossilized whalebone, baleen
20"h x 22"w x 9"d

Ronald Apangalook, a Siberian Yup’ik artist from the village of Gambell, Alaska, created this wonderful, finely carved sculpture. This delightful piece is created from fossilized whalebone. Ronald carve the images of three profile polar bear faces and one sweet baby bear looking straight ahead into the piece of whale scapula and inlaid baleen to define the eyes and noses.

This work exemplifies Ronald's fine attention to detail, ability to work with fossilized whalebone and his sophisticated carving technique. Ronald’s Eskimo name is Qaygeghutkaq (shortened to Qay), literal translation “put on top”.