E0683A: Inuit- Earrings

Ethnographic

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Identifier:

E0683A

Classification Category:

10:Unclassifiable Artifacts

Marks/Labels:

Tag: "1. overture (?) 2. cornat I..." (The rest is cut off and it's pretty illegibl). The back side says: "Ear Rings(?)"

Materials:

animal ➔ ivory
stone/minerals ➔ turquoise

Dimensions:

1 cm L
1 cm W
2.5 cm H

Provenance of Object:

This object was held in the museum that Luther College started in 1877. This museum eventually grew into the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, and following this, non-Norwegian American ethnographic objects were returned to Luther and accessioned into the college’s Anthropology Collection. Without additional documentation, was likely obtained by the Luther College Museum (later the Norwegian-American Museum) between the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Use/Function:

"Personal items were not common among the Inuit people. As a nomadic people they carried with them what they could, so personal items often showed wealth and status. Some jewelry would be used specifically for rituals. Some of these personal jewelry items such as earrings and necklaces were often made from ivory or antler. Earrings and necklaces would also utilize other stones such as amber or turquoise, shells, beads and metals such as copper or silver."- All the Small Things Exhibit

Source Locality:

Brevig Mission, Alaska, USA

Acquisition Date:

January 2 1898

Description:

Inuit earrings made of ivory and a turquoise piece.

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