Walrus Ashtray Item Number: 3202/4 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Carved black stone walrus. Animal lays on belly, with front flippers supporting the raised head and neck. Face is turned to the side and has carved neck wrinkles, as well as eyes, nostrils, mouth and whisker follicles on the face. Two ivory tusks emerge from the mouth (one of which is removable--part ‘b’). Into the animal’s back is carved a shallow ashtray with four half circle hollows around the edge.
Narrative
Gigliotti was stationed in Frobisher Bay (now Iqaliut) as a meteorologist from 1952-54. During this period he acquired a small collection of Inuit objects from two Inuit men who were allowed to come out to the station. He was told the objects were from Cape Dorset.
Item History
- Made in Cape Dorset, Nunavut, Canada and Kinngait, Nunavut, Canada before 1954
- Collected in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada between 1952 and 1954
- Owned by Tom Gigliotti before October 1, 2016
- Received from Tom Gigliotti (Donor) on October 1, 2016
What
- Name
- Walrus Ashtray
- Identification Number
- 3202/4 a-b
- Type of Item
- ashtray
- Material
- basalt stone and walrus tusk ?
- Overall
- height 11.5 cm, width 17.5 cm, depth 9.1 cm
Who
- Culture
- Inuit
- Previous Owner
- Tom Gigliotti
- Received from
- Tom Gigliotti (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Cape Dorset, Nunavut, Canada and Kinngait, Nunavut, Canada
- Collected in
- Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1954
- Collection Date
- between 1952 and 1954
- Ownership Date
- before October 1, 2016
- Acquisition Date
- on October 1, 2016
Other
- Item Classes
- carvings & sculpture
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 3202/0004 a-b