#98 • Nine Early Eskimo Carved Walrus Tusk Bird Figures

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

High bid $1,900.00

Status: Sold

Category: Ethnographic Objects

A group of nine early Eskimo carved walrus tusk bird figures, late 19th or early 20th century, including four broad-bodied waterfowl with flat bases and five standing birds inspired by Arctic species such as owls, puffins, ptarmigan, and auk-like seabirds. Each is rendered in a charming folk-art manner with rounded forms and carefully engraved plumage, featuring dense crosshatching, stippled textures, and finely incised feather patterns extending across the backs, wings, heads, and in several cases, the undersides. The four flat-bottomed examples are reminiscent of pieces used in the traditional Inuit game tingmiujang, or "bird game," while the standing examples emphasize distinctive beaks, feet, and characteristic postures. The largest figure measures approximately 1.75" tall. Provenance: From the collection of Dr. Henry B. Collins and descendants. Collins (1899-1987) served as Senior Archaeologist and Head Curator of Ethnology at the Smithsonian Institution and spent decades conducting research throughout Alaska and the Bering Strait region.