Small container carved from tusk. Container is an elongated hexagon, tall, with a crenellated rim. Interior narrows toward bottom, following the line of the tusk’s pulp cavity. The front is engraved with an igloo below Inuktitut syllabics, while on the back is a stone lamp(?), also with syllabics. Both images are emphasized with black, while syllabics are in-painted with red. A channel is carved around the exterior at the bottom, to create the illusion of a base.

• Narrative

  Gigliotti was stationed in Frobisher Bay (now Iqaliut) as a meteorologist from 1952-54. During this period he acquired a small collection of Inuit objects from two Inuit men who were allowed to come out to the station. He was told the objects were from Cape Dorset.

• History Of Use

  Used to hold matches. The syllabics above the snowhouse can be transcribed as Iluviga, which is Igluvigaq meaning snow house. The syllabics above the lamp can be transcribed as kuli, which is qulliq meaning lamp.

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• Type of Item container
• Culture Inuit
• Material walrus tusk, paint
• Measurements height 4.1 cm, width 4.1 cm, depth 2.4 cm (overall)

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• Previous Owner Tom Gigliotti
• Received from Tom Gigliotti

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• Made in Cape Dorset, Kinngait
• Collected in Iqaluit

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• Creation Date before 1954
• Collection Date between 1952 and 1954
• Ownership Date before October 1, 2016
• Acquisition Date on October 1, 2016

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• Condition good
• Accession Number 3202/0010