Baleen basketry of the North Alaskan Eskimo

Book

Baleen basketry of the North Alaskan Eskimo / Molly Lee ; foreword by Aldona Jonaitis ; new preface and introduction by the author.

Summary:

Baskets made of baleen, the fibrous substance found in the mouths of plankton-eating whales - a malleable and durable material that once had commercial uses equivalent to those of plastics today - were first created by Alaska Natives in the early years of the twentieth century. Because they were made for the tourist trade, they were initially disdained by scholars and collectors, but today they have joined other art forms as a highly prized symbol of Native identity. Baskets of exquisite workmanship, often topped with fanciful ivory carvings, have been created for almost a century, contributing significantly to the livelihood of their makers in the Arctic villages of Barrow, Point Hope, Wainwright, and Point Lay, Alaska.

Baleen Basketry of the North Alaskan Eskimo, originally published in 1983, was the first book on this unusual basket form. In this completely redesigned edition, it remains the most informative work on baleen baskets, covering their history, characteristics, and construction, as well as profiling their makers. It belongs in the library of all those with an interest in the art of basketry and in Alaskan Native arts in general.

Record details

ISBN: 0295976853
ISBN: 9780295976853
Physical Description: xiii, 82 pages : illustrations, map ; 26 cm
Publisher: Seattle : University of Washington Press published in association with the University of Alaska Museum, Fairbanks, 1998.

Content descriptions

General Note:: Originally published: Barrow, Alaska : North Slope Borough, Planning Dept., ©1983. With new pref. and introd.
Bibliography, etc. Note:: Includes bibliographical references (pages 71-76) and index.
Formatted Contents Note:: Introduction -- The cultural context of Baleen basketry -- The historical and formal development of Baleen baskets -- Characteristics of Baleen baskets -- Basket types -- Basket construction.