Hat pin consisting of a front plaque (part a) and separate pin, broken in half (parts b-c). Plaque depicts a bear confronting a walrus; both done in profile. Bear has a small protruding ear, black inlay eye, and fangs bared. Walrus is depicted from the chest up, with its head tilted back; has black inlay eye and jutting tusk. Base of plaque is a thin rectangle with the owner's name, Susan (suusaa), carved in syllabics across entire length; characters filled with black pigment. Back of plaque has two rounded ridges with holes drilled into them; pin would insert into holes to secure hat pin. The separate pin has a square-like head (part b) that tapers to a point (part c).

• 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.

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• Type of Item pin
• Culture Inuit
• Material walrus tusk, baleen, pigment
• Measurements height 3.9 cm, width 7.3 cm, depth 1.2 cm (overall)

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• Previous Owner Susan Smith
• Received from Susan Smith

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• Made in Iqaluit

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

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• Condition poor
• Accession Number 3668/0004 a-c