JEM Watercraft

I had someone ask me about this on another site and thought i'd share it over here These are item's my dad traded for while he was CPO on the USCG Ice Breaker "Northwind" in the North Atlantic off the coast of Greenland . The Eskimo's would paddle out and trade these for such thing as carton's of Pall Mall's and other thing's. The totem figure's are part of their beliefs as they would send these to their enemies to bring bad luck or death and once you were sent one of these the only thing you could do was send a more powerful one back.

Mike

Those a beautiful works of art. Thanks for sharing.

craiggamesh wrote:Those a beautiful works of art. Thanks for sharing.

ditto that.

Wow.

Kayak Jack wrote:What's the lollypop looking thing on the foredeck of the kayak?

The lollypop stick is likely a harpoon and the other part is probably a basket to hold the coiled rope that attached the harpoon to the seal skin float on the back deck.
See: http://www.old-picture.com/indians/Eski ... unting.htm
Also the photo at: http://www.qajaqusa.org/QK/QK.html
and http://www.spiritwrestler.com/Templates ... ref=R60104

Thanks for those links thats cool. on this one in apears to be a fish basket but after seeing your link i now know that it is most likey a rope basket,thanks

Mike

Mike, do you know what materials they are carved out of?

All i know for sure is that the totem figures are Whale's Teeth

Mike

Could they be out of the Ivory from a Walrus tusk ? Sure look like it.

I have a really nice carving here of a Polar Bear that was carved out of a Walrus Tusk. Ivory is easy to carve when it has been held in the hand and warmed up from the persons body heat.

Before you ask.......... Yes , I do carvings but the Polar Bear is not one of mine , it came into my procession from my Father ( after he passed away) who got it from the person who carved it.

My carvings are from Bass Wood and of Swamp Critters and Fish, Something I know about. Gators , Cranes , Gar , Catfish and Texas Turtles ... or what some folks call Possums on the half shell . ..... Armadillos.

One of my Gator carvings is in the Main Museum located in Leningrad over in the U.S.S.R. Others are scattered all around the states and a few other places. The Gator at Leningrad did get me a box of Cuban Cigars every year when they were friends with Cuba. Dam those were some good cigars.

A Little History for what it is worth............
I did sketches for the forestry service when I was in High School , worked as a manager and a Commercial Artist for about 10 years with a nation wide chain before becoming a Deputy Sheriff. The talent was used there , at times along with my Hypnotic abilities for 27 years till I retired in 98 , besides other normal duties. Like midnight patrols and search an rescue.