54 beads strung on a metal wire, with metal clasp at one end and loop on the opposite. Each bead is carved from tusk and shaped into a oblong orb. The surface of the beads has been polished to a shine. Colour varies in each bead, and is often mottled, from dark amber to light yellow. (Part b is a detached bead. Parts c-d are the old clasp: two round plastic tube-shaped pieces that screw together, and each has a hole in the end.)

Small carving of a polar bear and seal (part a). The bear stands on four legs in a wide stance, with a small carved tail at back, protruding ears atop the head, and engraved eyes and mouth on its face. The bear is consuming the seal, whose head disappears into the bear’s open mouth. The seal has two protruding fore flippers and one extended rear flipper. The other rear flipper is missing. A short wooden dowel is inserted into the stomach and held by adhesive, behind a small bored hole. Two black dots are painted on the stomach near the dowel. The stand (part b) is thin and flat, curves slightly to the left, and is also made of tusk. Through one end are bored two holes, one of which has been filled with adhesive and the other of which fits the wooden dowel of the seal. On the top near the centre, four dents have been carved to hold the feet of the bear. Adhesive fills the back two.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

TANGIBLE VISIONS. WARDWELL, ALLEN, 1996

Ornament made from boar tusks. Two semi-circular boar tusks tied together at each end with light brown cane-like grass strips, to form a circular ornament. Two holes have been bored through each end of the tusks to insert the ties. The exterior of the ornament is white with dark brown grooves and dots. The interior of the ornament is dark brown. The interior of the tusks is visible at one end of the ornament and is of a dark brown colour. One side of the ornament is smaller in diameter than the other side due to the shape of the tusks.

Round bracelet made out of four similarly sized, curved pieces of ivory. The pieces are attached by inset strips of wood and four small, decorative nails per piece, visible on the top and bottom of the bracelet. The sides of the bracelet are squared.

Model harpoon made of wood and tusk. A long thin wooden piece (part a) is topped by a small cube of tusk embedded in the wood. The tusk is ‘T’ shaped, and has a shallow hollow carved into its top. Just below, two hide thongs enter and exit the wood through small bored holes. A small piece of tusk protrudes from the wooden shaft at the top centre of the object. The accompanying piece (part b) is a thin needle shaped piece of tusk, slightly curved, tapered at the tip, with two holes bored through the top.

Short statuette of a billiken type figure on a round pedestal. The figure has high, rounded cheeks, slanted eyes, and tall, pointed ears. The figure’s eyes, nostrils, mouth, hair, nipples and bellybutton are painted black. The bottom portion of the pedestal has a rippled decoration. The sides are carved in shallow relief and have extremely long arms.

Small figure of an old man. The figure has a high forehead, furrowed brow and prominent mustache and beard. The shoulders are hunched forward, with one hand positioned behind his back and the other cupping his ear. There are two holes bored on the underside of the nose for nostrils. The figure is dressed in pants, a tunic, a jacket and pointed slippers. There is a distinct cross hatching pattern in the ivory on his back. The base is somewhat concave.