Hat Pin

MOA: University of British Columbia

3668/5

Hat pin made up of a decorative front plaque, with two rounded ridges on the back; holes drilled into the ridges, for a pin to be secured through. Plaque depicts a bear, on all fours, with a seal in its mouth. Both are done in profile with black inlay eyes; bear has a small protruding ear, seal has a fin. Seal's face is in bear's mouth, with body turned away, and back curved outward. Base of plaque is a thin rectangle with the owner's name, Audrey (atuuri), carved in syllabics across entire length; characters filled with black pigment.

  • Narrative

    Collected by the donor's father, Douglas B. Ritcey, who was a radio operator stationed in Iqualuit, from the 1940s to 1952. Each of the four hat pins (3668/2-5) has the name of one of the family members on it in syllabics.


  • Type of Item pin
  • Culture Inuit
  • Material walrus tusk, baleen, pigment
  • Measurements height 3.6 cm, width 7.0 cm, depth 0.9 cm (overall)

  • Previous Owner Susan Smith
  • Received from Susan Smith

  • Made in Iqaluit

  • Creation Date between 1940 and 1952
  • Ownership Date before August 2, 2024
  • Acquisition Date on August 2, 2024

  • Condition good
  • Accession Number 3668/0005