Lot 7: A fine and rare Inuit Mortuary doll

A fine and rare Inuit Mortuary doll, Inuit ; Alaska

The figure of unusual form, the head carved from cedar with inlaid eyes and mouth, and deep concave facial plains; traditional scarification below the mouth. The body made of stuffed hide and sewn together. Figures such as this were made as memorial effigies and kept by a family in remembrance of the deceased. Unlike toy dolls the figure was not handled, resulting in its nearly pristine condition. H. 15"

Comments:
Property of a New England Private collector

Provenance:
Purchased decades ago from a New England estate with ties to the whaling trade in the 19th Century.

Price Realized: $375

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