54 beads strung on a metal wire, with metal clasp at one end and loop on the opposite. Each bead is carved from tusk and shaped into a oblong orb. The surface of the beads has been polished to a shine. Colour varies in each bead, and is often mottled, from dark amber to light yellow. (Part b is a detached bead. Parts c-d are the old clasp: two round plastic tube-shaped pieces that screw together, and each has a hole in the end.)

• Narrative

  Collected by Alan Deacon between 1936 and 1940 at Coppermine. The beads were originally threaded on seal sinew, but were restrung without the original clasp when the sinew deteriorated.

• Cultural Context

  Probably made for the tourist market.

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• Type of Item bead
• Culture Inuit
• Material walrus tusk, metal, plastic
• Measurements height 0.8 cm, width 47.2 cm, depth 0.8 cm (part a) height 0.7 cm, width 0.9 cm, depth 0.7 cm (part b) height 0.4 cm, width 1.4 cm, depth 0.4 cm (part c) height 0.4 cm, width 0.6 cm, depth 0.4 cm (part d)

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• Previous Owner Joy Eastman
• Received from Joy Eastman

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• Made in Nunavut

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• Creation Date before 1940
• Ownership Date before May 8, 2014
• Acquisition Date on May 8, 2014

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• Condition good
• Accession Number 3058/0006 a-d