The site has three essays: 'The Iñupiat', 'History of Engraving' and 'Art of Engraving'. These provide a context to the forty-four featured engraved ivory tools. The essays are divided into pages, each illustrated. Select one of the thumbnail images to view a larger version in the main image pane.

Each of the object types (e.g. drill bows) has a page with a short article and image(s). Select one of the thumbnail images to view a larger version in the main image pane. At the bottom of each page is an 'Object list' with links to all the featured objects of this type.

The engravings feature a number of motifs: each of these has a page with a short article and image(s). Select one of the thumbnail images to view a larger version in the main image pane. At the bottom of each page is an 'Object list' with links to all the objects engraved with motifs of this type.

Each of the objects has a page with information about its place of origin, date, provenance and registration number. Below is a list of links to the relevant object type and motif pages.

The main image shows an illustration of the object, drawn to make the engravings as clear as possible. Below the image are links to a 'Larger illustration x2' and a 'Larger illustration x4', which opens in a new browser window, allowing the user to scroll along the length of the image. There is also a thumbnail link to a photograph of the object. Select this to view a larger version in the main image pane.

Unless otherwise stated below, the copyright of the images used on this site is held by the Trustees of the British Museum.

The Iñupiat

Fig. 1: Photograph by the Lomen Brothers, Nome. Glenbow Archives NC-1-46b
Fig. 4: Photograph by Tom Lowenstein
Fig. 5: Drawing by William Smyth (Beechey 1831: plate opp. page 250)
Fig. 7: Photograph by J.C.H. King, 1990s
Fig. 8: Photograph by J.C.H. King, 1990s
Fig. 9: Photograph by J.C.H. King

History of Engraving

Fig. 1: Gift of Sir A.W. Franks
Fig. 4: © Crown Copyright 2005. Published by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the UK Hydrographic Office
Fig. 5: © Crown Copyright 2005. Published by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the UK Hydrographic Office
Fig. 6: Library, Centre for Anthropology, The British Museum Fig. 7: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution (PORT 42,592)
Fig. 8: Photograph by William Laird McKinlay
Fig. 12: Photograph by the Lomen Brothers, Nome, Alaska. Glenbow Archives ND-1-102
Fig. 14: Photograph by J.C.H. King

Art of Engraving

Fig. 8: Photograph by Steve McCutcheon. Courtesy of Anchorage Museum of History and Art

Motifs

Caribou, fig. 1: Photograph by Tom Lowenstein
Whales, fig. 1: Photograph by Tom Lowenstein
Birds, fig. 1: Photograph by Tom Lowenstein
Supernatural beings, fig. 1: Photograph by Tom Lowenstein
Dwellings, fig. 1: Photograph by the Lomen Brothers, Nome. Glenbow Archives, ND-1-130
Umiaqs, fig. 1: Photograph by the Lomen Brothers, Nome
Kayaks, fig. 1: Photograph by the Lomen Brothers, Nome. Glenbow Archives, NC-1-916d

The website was authored by the British Museum’s Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas and created by the New Media Unit:

Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas
James Farrant (Illustrator)
Jonathan King (Curator)
Birgit Pauksztat (Curator)

New Media Unit
Martin Buttery (Digital imager)      
Susan Crouch (Editor)
Mark Timson (Designer and developer)

The excerpts from stories told by Asatchaq Jimmie Kivilliguk (1891-1980), Piquk Solomon Killigivuk and Tukummiq Carol Omnik are taken from Asatchaq and Lowenstein (1992: 8, 30, 31, 45, 48, 51, 53, 55, 60), Lowenstein (1993: 116), and unpublished material courtesy of Tom Lowenstein. The stories were recorded by Tom Lowenstein between 1973 and 1988, and translated by Tukummiq Carol Omnik and Tom Lowenstein.

Thanks go to Harry Persaud, Michael Row and Ian Taylor for organizing the photography for the project. We would also like to thank David Neufeld (Parks Canada, Whitehorse), Robert McGhee (Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau), Laura Peers and Amber Lincoln (Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford), Tom Lowenstein (London) and Adrian Holloway (Horniman Museum, London) for providing invaluable comments and information. Thanks also go to John Vigor, Danny Brewer and Alex Fauland.