Small Spotted Seal on Walrus Ivory Base

Small Spotted Seal on Walrus Ivory Base
fossil walrus ivory,ink pigment, baleen inlay
Seal: .75”h x 1”w x 2.75”l
Base: .5"h x 2"w x 3"l

Inspired by the marine life of Saint Lawrence Island and in the tradition of his late father, Floyd Kingeekuk Sr., Floyd Kingeekuk Jr. carved this unique piece from walrus ivory carefully stippling pigment onto the surface to create the fine detail and individual character of this wonderful little spotted seal. Floyd used inlay baleen to define the eyes. The seal sits atop a round of walrus ivory.

Spotted seals are relatively shy and are difficult for humans to approach. They can be solitary in general but are gregarious and form large groups during pupping and molting seasons when they haul out on ice floes or, lacking ice, on land. The numerically largest groups in Alaska are at Kasegaluk Lagoon in the Chukchi Sea, near Cape Espenburg in Kotzebue Sound, and in Kuskokwim Bay on sandbars and shoals, where several thousand may collect.

Please call or email arcticspiritgallery@gmail.com for price or more information.

Alaska Native ivory art is highly collectable but it is important to be an educated buyer. For more information refer to Alaska Native Ivory brochure from the U.S. Department of the Interior – Indian Arts and Crafts Board online: https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/iacb_alaska_ivory_brochure_2018_web.pdf