#3 • Peter and Joseph Mayac King Island Walrus Tusk Avian Carvings

Part of June 2026 Premier Auction (live auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

High bid $550.00

Status: Sold

Category: Ethnographic Objects

A charming group of three walrus tusk avian carvings by members of the celebrated Mayac family of King Island, Alaska, each rendered with finely executed scrimshaw and keen attention to the distinctive characteristics of the species portrayed. The group includes a perched bald eagle with white head and hooked beak, a standing puffin with folded wings and expressive features, and a resting loon with elongated bill and characteristic neck markings. Dense engraved linework and stippling throughout create impressive texture and depth, faithfully conveying feather patterns and plumage. The two standing figures are signed on the underside by Inupiaq carver Joseph Mayac (20th/21st century), while the larger resting loon is signed by his father, renowned King Island master Peter Mayac (1913-1976). Peter Mayac is widely regarded among the foremost ivory carvers of the twentieth century, and his work is represented in numerous collections. Together, these carvings represent two generations of one of Alaska's most accomplished carving families. Largest measures approximately 3" long × 1.25" wide × 1.5" tall.