#58 • Yup'ik Zoomorphic Bentwood Cup

Part of September 2025 Premier Auction (live auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

High bid $550.00

Status: Sold

This late 19th-century bentwood cup is distinguished by a carved handle in the form of a caribou, an animal central to the lifeways of the Yup’ik people. Shaped from a single strip of steamed wood and bent into form, the vessel combines practical function with careful artistry. The carved animal element affirms the deep relationship between people and the beings that sustained them, a reminder that objects made for daily use could also carry layers of meaning. The cup reflects a tradition in which form and decoration were not separate from utility, but integral to it. Caribou provided food, clothing, and tools, and their presence in design embodied respect and acknowledgment of reciprocity. Wooden cups of this period are rare survivals, as they were heavily used and often lost to time and climate. Measures approximately 8" long, 3.75" tall. Provenance: The Robert and Nancy Nooter Collection