The rare things: a pictorial essay
I recently posted a story about seeking the perfect sealskin / sea otter hat, and finding one from Helen Pootoogooluk from Shishmaref. It was the chance of a lifetime and I was incredibly blessed by how it worked out. Here's something like that for my boy.
When my boy was earning his Eagle Scout rank I wanted to get him something special. I spent a year looking and there was nothing that "mattered" in the big scheme of things. Being an Eagle Scout matters. So I searched. I found myself in another Native arts fair and all the kind hearted eskimos had come to Anchorage with their goods. For many there was fierce obstinate warrior pride, for others, subdued embarrassment. But over it all, dignity and humble respect. Alaskan natives are amazing like that ... you'll never see it until you close your mouth and open your ears and look at them. I walked along, touching a piece here and there, admiring, smiling at them, feeling totally out of place. I was just a Gussuk, and I could *feel* it on my skin. The place was full of gorgeous handmade pieces, and I asked "Eagles? Do you have eagles?" and they just looked at me like I was broken. "Eagles? Do you have anything?" And a cute 20-something eskimo girl put down her phone and made eye contact. "C'mere" she said and I followed her down a few tables. She stopped and there was an ancient man with no teeth and bleary eyes. She said "kululiaq" and bent to speak in his ear. "King" is the closest translation. He sat for a moment, then broke into a grin and bent to pull something from under his table. He was an elder from Shishmaref, and he made 1 or 2 pieces each year. He set something on the table wrapped in a sheet of leather. I smiled and nodded, I doubt he even saw me, and unwrapped it. It was the most spectacular carved handle knife I'd ever seen, and it had eagles. I can't imagine how many hours it took to make it, with all the detail. I told the girl "yes, thank you" and handed her my credit card. She smiled and ran it, and I think the gussuk paid for a good portion of his annual living expenses right there. But my God, what an unspeakable treasure. I can always earn more money, but a chance for something like this is once in a lifetime. "Quyana" whoever you were.
The base is a section of moose antler, the end is capped with baleen and the "holder" is a carved oogruk tooth.
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That is a gorgeous piece of handmade utilitarian Artwork.
Personally I like your Black Obsidian blade knife with carved handle and holder. That is just awesome.
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BTW's...
Unless you were being a complete "Richard" I would not consider your contribution to my threads a threadjack or takeover or interference - I have in fact decided that you are a friend and peer and welcome your input...
I applaud your honorific - your paying respectful homage by stealing a turn of phrase or page of a book from me in the use of the nomenclature or sobriquet of "pictorial essay" to describe your thread intention in the title - while you may get some teasing for adopting my patois or falling victim to my errant linguistic drift I see it as a nod of the head or compliment.
Please continue to use that phrase to identify or delineate picture laden post content focused on a particular subject or field of study - such ideas are not mine alone and I don't mind a little patent infringement - I think it makes sense and I would like to see more posts of this nature on a number of diverse eclectic subjects - we all collect something or posses some obscure arcane knowledge that should be shared and would be appreciated.
You will get high marks for posting pics of things you actually own or made or use yourself rather than me preferred method of data mining and curating archival pics and presenting them in a flip book bespoke manner to inspire questions or teach some of what I know - partly because in doing the research I learn more information and expand my knowledge of the subject in question.
Of I may humbly suggest:
Lay down some bullet point rules or parameters for your thread feedback...
What would you like to see us submit as far as pics or commentary
Define some loose boundaries to better focus or define the field of discussion (ie "treaty of Versailles period semiautomatic bottom barrel architecture pistols")
Perhaps highlight a few buzzwords or search parameter key words or topics to invite response or spur interest in the subject topics or areas or items you wish to keep in focus
Primitive weapons - modern practices of primitive skills - use of specific iconography or certain iconoclastic talisman visual representations...
Incorporating natural materials into modern takes on native tools and weapons specific to certain regions or tribes or time periods (whale bone - narwhal horn - ulus - eagles - antlers - Flint - obsidian - volcanic glass - etc...)
Just some off the cuff suggestions or random thoughts or synaptic misfires - show us and teach us and invite our incipient and participation...
My last reply to your remarks in my thread might have been better placed here had I read this topic first...
Narrow your parameters and define some boundaries.
And if I may be so bold without causing offense - your work - the work you have referenced and pictured is so well executed that it looks like many modern computer mapped replicas or fantasy clones or tourist trade simulations...
But I bet you could shave with it or kill with it.
I greatly await addition content and member replies - and hope to contribute myself - consider this a second welcome aboard the GB forums family.
These are the type of threads I wish received more attention and had pages of replies...
Mike
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Bakers dozen + north American natural artifacts or materials pictorial essay contributions I
I can take more and better pics if requested / desired...
I have a number of guns with exceptional authentic period correct horn or bone or natural material grips or adornments...
The Jager and my Great Western SAA and my Spanish Buffalo .25 acp and my Sauer and Son .22 SAA are the best examples with what I think are the most outstanding thick vintage authentic horn grips or scales...
I have a rifle stock that has a grip cap estucion and Schnabel fore end tip done in buffalo horn with a pair of small diamond inlays and a butt stock spacer also done in buffalo horn...
Some nice powder horns and a Spanish bota and a few scrimshaw pieces and some antler sheds and such that I cherish...
I bought makaila a set of earrings made from polished teeth of some sort at an estate sale - and had them mounted as a pendant on a minimal necklace with some silver wire mounts and adornments at a local jewelry store...
When I picked them up the jeweler himself wanted to talk to me - exclaiming how nice and probably vintage (100-200+ year old) large caribou eye teeth I had brought in - wanted to know where I acquired them and could I supply more - explained their historical value and native cultural uses and meanings...
He tried to by them - I had them mounted in wire as a pendant because I did not want to damage them or remove more material or spoil them in any way - and makaila does not do jewelry beyond a few cherished pieces and certainly not giant earrings...
I have some nice knives with these types of natural materials as scales or bolsters or handles as well - and some netsukes and talismans or totems...
I have a stash of antler sheds and antique piano keys from a junkyard / scrap yard (ebony and ivory for real and vintage) and some closeout knife scale blanks from one of the suppliers who used to advertise in Jantz knife and jewelry supply magazine / catalog back in the day - horn and bone and tooth and scrap from rate hardwoods or driftwood or fruit wood with very impressive gaining and coloration - some wood bowl blanks - a mixed bag of singles or pairs of unknown old pistol grips - an antique clarinet...
Set aside for use as secondary adornments or embellishments for project guns yet to be finished or for arts and crafts projects...
A wicked nice bow made from African bubinga - scraps of Honduran mahogany - etc...
Hope this does as useful or enjoyable or spurs some commentary.
Mike
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Nanuq907, a very beautiful piece of artwork befitting a huge milestone. I especially love the eagle head on the base of the antler handle. A wonderful story describing your quest for the perfect gift.
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Nanug907, spent 6 weeks traveling all over Alaska in '89 and some contact with Native Alaskans. Your knife is awesome and obviously touched by a master. -------------Ray 0 -
Bump - BTT
can we see more???
Mike
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Is that cup or bracelet made of bone also? Looks old. 0 -
I like the cup and the pipe. 0 -
Oh man, where do I start? My grandparents were Yellowstone Park Rangers and traded with the Indians so we have trunks full of amazing stuff. White deerskin moccasins covered with beading, matching leather gauntlets, handmade Navajo rugs, pipes, beaver fur gloves, my granddad’s knife and pistol, ranger hats, a 4x4 map on canvas covered with corrections and “x marks the spot” where they discovered new geysers... it’s just endless.
Even the Certificates signed by the Presidents at the time, re-upping great grandfather to be Postmaster of YNP another couple years, before he became Superintendent. There’s one from Coolidge, Roosevelt, Harding, Hoover, etc etc etc. just amazing stuff.
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