#5 • Walrus Head Sculpture in Fossil Whale Bone - Ron Apangalook

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

High bid $1,800.00

Status: Sold

Category: Ethnographic Objects

A striking sculpture by renowned Gambell, Alaska, carver Ron Apangalook, signed "QAY" on the underside, a shortened form of his Yup'ik name Qaygeghutkaq. Executed in fossil whale bone, the work depicts the head of a walrus with remarkable economy and sensitivity, the porous texture of the ancient bone lending a naturalistic quality to the animal's wrinkled muzzle and massive head. A pair of genuine polished walrus tusks project from the face, while baleen-inlaid eyes provide subtle detail and expression. The walrus head rises from a mounted whale vertebral disk, creating a balanced composition that recalls the animal emerging from the sea. Apangalook is among the most recognized artists from St. Lawrence Island, and his work is prized for its sophisticated use of fossil materials and restrained, highly evocative carving style. The sculpture measures approximately 10" x 10.25" x 13.75" tall.