Scraped stomach or intestines, tanned white. Made in 7 horizontal panels, largest one folded over for a seamless bottom. No decoration in side seams. Main decoration is horizontal fringing of seal hair, red yarn, white reindeer hair embroidery and red-painted depilated hide or gut, about 5 cm from bottom. Next, a wide black graphite-painted horizontal panel with white reindeer hair embroidery and loop-fringing, red and gray yarns and threads, and red-painted gut strips. White windpipe skin inset with black & red dyed gutskin and seal fur; trimmed with white quill and red wool yarn. Bag string: braided white cotton yarn into which pink, black tufts of cotton have been mixed, at end a white glass bead.
Donor:
Alaska Commercial Company, Benjamin Bristol, and Older University Collections
length 18.5 centimeters and width 15.5 centimeters
Comment:
These 2 panels are related by a series of red or black painted gut Xs sewn between them. The top horizontal panel is a seal fur fringe with strand of red and brown yarn circling the mouth of the pouch. There is a braided textile hanging strap decorated with purple and black tufts of yarn with a large white glass bead at the end. Sewn with textile thread, using running stitch. Specular haematite-rubbed gut. Cf. 2-4527.
Loans:
S2019-2020 #2: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (October 13, 2019–February 27, 2020)