Inuit Art Photos

The Inuit (pejorative term Eskimo) range across the Arctic from Northern Alaska, Canada & Greenland. Originally nomadic peoples, their art started with decorations to clothing and small carvings (now larger for a commercial market). Some Dene work is included.

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Inupiaq woven basket with lid & animal ivory figures from Pt. Barrow, AK at Denver Art Museum. Denver, CO.Inupiaq woven basket with lid & ivory seal handle by Abe Simmons at Denver Art Museum. Denver, CO.Inupiaq Inuit baleen & ivory basket from Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Inuit lidded container with carved seals from Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Inupiaq woven basket with lid & animal ivory figures (c1900) from Pt. Barrow, AK at Denver Art Museum. Denver, CO.Inupiaq woven basket with lid & ivory seal handle (1950) by Abe Simmons at Denver Art Museum. Denver, CO.Inupiaq Inuit baleen & ivory basket (1940-50) from Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Inuit lidded container with carved seals (c1880) from Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Inuit baskets with carved animal handles from Alaska at San Diego Museum of Man. San Diego, CA.Inuit bentwood box with handle from Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Inupiaq Inuit bentwood container from Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Inuit bentwood toolbox with ivory fish handle from Alaska at Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Cleveland, OH.
Inuit baskets with carved animal handles (early 20thC) from Alaska at San Diego Museum of Man. San Diego, CA.Inuit bentwood box with handle (c1880) from Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Inupiaq Inuit bentwood container (1880-90) from Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Inuit bentwood toolbox with ivory fish handle (19thC) from Alaska at Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Cleveland, OH.
Inuit bentwood hunting hat with ivory birds & walrus from Alaska at Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Cleveland, OH.Yup'ik Inuit trinket box in shape of seal from Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Inuit wood box for harpoon points in shape of whale from Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Cup'ik Inuit walrus effigy box from Nunivak Island, Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Inuit bentwood hunting hat with ivory birds & walrus (c1897) from Alaska at Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Cleveland, OH.Yup'ik Inuit trinket box in shape of seal (c1850) from Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Inuit wood box for harpoon points in shape of whale (1860-80) from Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Cup'ik Inuit walrus effigy box (19th-20thC) from Nunivak Island, Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Inupiat mask at Eiteljorg Museum. Indianapolis, IN.Inuit mask of bear spirit by Yup'ik culture of Norton Sound of Yukon River area of Alaska at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Inuit mask seal or sea otter spirit by Yup'ik culture of Yukon River area of Alaska at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Yup'ik Inuit wolf sprit mask from Kuskokwim River, AK at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Houston, TX.
Inupiat (Point Hope or Barrow) mask (c18thC) at Eiteljorg Museum. Indianapolis, IN.Inuit mask of bear spirit (late 19thC) by Yup'ik culture of Norton Sound of Yukon River area of Alaska at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Inuit mask seal or sea otter spirit (19thC) by Yup'ik culture of Yukon River area of Alaska at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Yup'ik Inuit wolf sprit mask (1850-75) from Kuskokwim River, AK at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Houston, TX.
Inuit harpoon collection at Vancouver Maritime Museum. Vancouver, BC.Inuit soapstone oil lamp at Vancouver Maritime Museum. Vancouver, BC.Inuit beaded baskets at Nelson Museum of the West. Cheyenne, WY.Inuit whalebone carving of man by Tommy Ashevak at Vancouver Maritime Museum. Vancouver, BC.
Inuit harpoon collection at Vancouver Maritime Museum. Vancouver, BC.Inuit soapstone oil lamp (Kudluk) at Vancouver Maritime Museum. Vancouver, BC.Inuit beaded baskets (c1905) at Nelson Museum of the West. Cheyenne, WY.Inuit whalebone carving of man by Tommy Ashevak at Vancouver Maritime Museum. Vancouver, BC.
Inupiaq parka by Helen Senungetuk of Alaska at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Dene caribou skin jacket at Royal Saskatchewan Museum. Regina, SK.Dene dew claw bag at Royal Saskatchewan Museum. Regina, SK.Inuit snow goggles from Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Inupiaq parka (prior 1980) by Helen Senungetuk of Alaska at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Dene caribou skin jacket (prior to 1972) at Royal Saskatchewan Museum. Regina, SK.Dene dew claw bag (prior to 1914) at Royal Saskatchewan Museum. Regina, SK.Inuit snow goggles (19th C & earlier) from Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Inuit snow goggles from Baffin Island or Hudson Bay at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.Inuit-style bone or wood slit Arctic snow goggles at Vancouver Maritime Museum. Vancouver, BC.Inuit bone snow goggles at San Diego Museum of Man. San Diego, CA.Inuit sealskin Kayak from Hudson Strait at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.
Inuit snow goggles (1910-14) from Baffin Island or Hudson Bay at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.Inuit-style bone or wood slit Arctic snow goggles at Vancouver Maritime Museum. Vancouver, BC.Inuit bone snow goggles at San Diego Museum of Man. San Diego, CA.Inuit sealskin Kayak (1910-14) from Hudson Strait at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.
Inuit whaleboat model carving from Baffin Island at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.Beaded Inuit blanket for sled dog from Fort McPherson, NWT at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.Inuit skin pack-bag for sled dog from Baffin Island or Hudson Bay at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.Inuit woman's outer parkas from Hudson Bay at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.
Inuit whaleboat model carving (early 20thC) from Baffin Island at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.Beaded Inuit blanket for sled dog (c1890s) from Fort McPherson, NWT at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.Inuit skin pack-bag for sled dog (1910-14) from Baffin Island or Hudson Bay at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.Inuit woman's outer parkas (1910-14) from Hudson Bay at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.
Inuit woman's outer parkas from Baffin Island at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.Inuit girl's caribou skin outer stocking from Baffin Island or Hudson Bay at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.Inuit man's eider duck feather parka from Belcher Islands, Hudson Bay at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.Inuit woman's inner beaded parka from western Hudson Bay at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.
Inuit woman's outer parkas (c1914) from Baffin Island at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.Inuit girl's caribou skin outer stocking (1910-14) from Baffin Island or Hudson Bay at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.Inuit man's eider duck feather parka (1914) from Belcher Islands, Hudson Bay at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.Inuit woman's inner beaded parka (early 20thC) from western Hudson Bay at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.
Inuit carvings at Pardee Home Museum. Oakland, CA.Collection of Inuit walrus-ivory carvings at Yale Peabody Museum. New Haven, CT.Inuit walrus-ivory carvings at Yale Peabody Museum. New Haven, CT.Inuit walrus-ivory carvings of polar bears at Yale Peabody Museum. New Haven, CT.
Inuit carvings at Pardee Home Museum. Oakland, CA.Collection of Inuit walrus-ivory carvings at Yale Peabody Museum. New Haven, CT.Inuit walrus-ivory carvings at Yale Peabody Museum. New Haven, CT.Inuit walrus-ivory carvings of polar bears at Yale Peabody Museum. New Haven, CT.
Inuit hunting polar bear ivory carving by Aloysius Pikonganna or Nome, AK at National Museum of the American Indian. Washington, DC.Inuit ivory carvings at Vancouver Maritime Museum. Vancouver, BC.Inuit carved ivory pipes at Peabody Museum. Cambridge, MA.Cup'ik Inuit walrus tusk carved seal for box decoration from Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Inuit hunting polar bear ivory carving (1958) by Aloysius Pikonganna or Nome, AK at National Museum of the American Indian. Washington, DC.Inuit ivory carvings (1940s) at Vancouver Maritime Museum. Vancouver, BC.Inuit (Eskimo) carved ivory pipes (c1900) at Peabody Museum. Cambridge, MA.Cup'ik Inuit walrus tusk carved seal for box decoration (c1880) from Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Kalaallit wooden box with human & animal figures from Angmagssalik , Greenland at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Inuit ivory harpoon rest with carved bears, thunderbirds & whales from Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Cup'ik Inuit cribbage boards from Nunivak Island, Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Cup'ik Inuit carved tusk with 27 animals from Nunivak Island, Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Kalaallit wooden box with human & animal figures (c1890) from Angmagssalik (Tasiilaq), Greenland at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Inuit ivory harpoon rest with carved bears, thunderbirds & whales (19th-20thC) from Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Cup'ik Inuit cribbage boards (c1890-1910) from Nunivak Island, Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Cup'ik Inuit carved tusk with 27 animals (c1920) from Nunivak Island, Alaska at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Walrus ivory carving of couple with dog sled from Holman Island, Canada at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Carved ivory seals on antler from Northern Canada at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Inuit carved walrus tusk with hunting scene by Levi Nunngaq of Resolute Bay at Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Montreal, QC.Inuit carved ivory & steatite hunter pulling seal from ice breathing hole at Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Montreal, QC.
Walrus ivory carving of couple with dog sled (c1960) from Holman Island, Canada at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Carved ivory seals on antler (1971) from Northern Canada at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Inuit carved walrus tusk with hunting scene (c1949) by Levi Nunngaq of Resolute Bay at Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Montreal, QC.Inuit carved ivory & steatite hunter pulling seal from ice breathing hole (1950s) at Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Montreal, QC.
Carved soapstone hunter with walrus from Northern Canada at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Carved soapstone shaman bear by Makituq culture from Pelly Bay, NWT, Canada at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Carved stone Sedna with Braid by David Ruben Piqtoukun from Paulatuk, Mackenzie Delta, Canada at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Inuit stone carvings at Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Montreal, QC.
Carved soapstone hunter with walrus (late 20thC) from Northern Canada at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Carved soapstone shaman bear (1979) by Makituq culture from Pelly Bay, NWT, Canada at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Carved stone Sedna with Braid (mythological Mother of the Sea) (c1980) by David Ruben Piqtoukun from Paulatuk, Mackenzie Delta, Canada at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Inuit stone carvings at Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Montreal, QC.
Inuit carved steatite snowy owl by Markusi Qalingu Angutiqirq from Puvirnituq, Nunavik at Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Montreal, QC.Inuit soapstone Inukshuk by Judas Ullulaq of Gjoa Haven, Nunavut at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Inuit soapstone shaman bear in transformation to human by David Ruben Piqtoukun of Canada at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Inuit soapstone shaman in transformation to bear by David Ruben Piqtoukun of Canada at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Inuit carved steatite snowy owl (1950) by Markusi Qalingu Angutiqirq from Puvirnituq, Nunavik at Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Montreal, QC.Inuit soapstone Inukshuk (1981-2) by Judas Ullulaq of Gjoa Haven, Nunavut at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Inuit soapstone shaman bear in transformation to human (1991) by David Ruben Piqtoukun of Canada at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Inuit soapstone shaman in transformation to bear (1991) by David Ruben Piqtoukun of Canada at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Inuit stone carving of Passage of Spirits by Abraham Anghik Ruben of Canada at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Inuit ivory carving of man in Kayak at National Gallery of Canada. Ottawa, ON.Inuit black stone carving of totem from Quebec at National Gallery of Canada. Ottawa, ON.Inuit bone carving representing bear by Adamie Papyarluk of Kuujjuaraapik, Quebec at National Gallery of Canada. Ottawa, ON.
Inuit stone carving of Passage of Spirits (20th-21stC) by Abraham Anghik Ruben of Canada at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Inuit ivory carving of man in Kayak (c1900-60) at National Gallery of Canada. Ottawa, ON.Inuit black stone carving of totem (c1952) from Quebec at National Gallery of Canada. Ottawa, ON.Inuit bone carving representing bear (c1958) by Adamie Papyarluk of Kuujjuaraapik, Quebec at National Gallery of Canada. Ottawa, ON.
Inuit bone carving representing fighting man & bear by Palosee? of Arctic Bay, Nunavut at National Gallery of Canada. Ottawa, ON.Inuit whalebone carving of drummer by John Niviaqsiaq of Taloyoak, NWT at National Gallery of Canada. Ottawa, ON.Inuit pair of incised walrus ivory tusks by Annugakuluk Kelly of Kimmirut, NWT at National Gallery of Canada. Ottawa, ON.Inuit soapstone carved man & woman by Kiugak Ashoona of Tariugajak camp, NWT at National Gallery of Canada. Ottawa, ON.
Inuit bone carving representing fighting man & bear (c1971) by Palosee? of Arctic Bay, Nunavut at National Gallery of Canada. Ottawa, ON.Inuit whalebone carving of drummer (19721) by John Niviaqsiaq of Taloyoak, NWT at National Gallery of Canada. Ottawa, ON.Inuit pair of incised walrus ivory tusks (c1979) by Annugakuluk Kelly of Kimmirut, NWT at National Gallery of Canada. Ottawa, ON.Inuit soapstone carved man & woman by Kiugak Ashoona of Tariugajak camp, NWT at National Gallery of Canada. Ottawa, ON.
Inuit culture carved wooden helmet is shape of seal head used a lure from Arctic America at Museum of America. Madrid, Spain.


Inuit culture carved wooden helmet is shape of seal head used a lure (18thC) from Arctic America at Museum of America. Madrid, Spain.


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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

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