E0686: Inuit- Button or Bead

Ethnographic

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Identifier:

E0686

Classification Category:

3:Personal Artifacts ➞ Adornment

Marks/Labels:

1966 in red ink.

Materials:

animal ➔ ivory

Dimensions:

3 cm L
1 cm W

Use/Function:

"Beads were often made from ivory, bone or shells. Beads are a common item found on clothing, often decorating the shoulders and front flaps of jackets, and also on shoes and mittens. The design of the beads range from small non-descript white squares to animal shapes. Occasionally strings of breads were used to attach objects such as pipes or tobacco pouches to belts."- All the Small Things Exhibit.

Source Locality:

Brevig Mission, Alaska, USA

Acquisition Date:

1894 – 1916

Description:

Inuit bead or button in the shape of a seal carved out of ivory. Donated by Rev. T.L. Brevig in 1898.

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