7 Foot 5" Wall Hanging - Scrimshaw Whale Baleen Frond - Mid Century

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7' 5" X 8" Scrimshaw whale baleen frond by celebrated artist Roger Silook (1923-2004) of St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. He … Read more 7' 5" X 8" Scrimshaw whale baleen frond by celebrated artist Roger Silook (1923-2004) of St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. He was a past mayor of Gambell, Alaska as well as the first chairman of the Alaskan Whaling Commission. The imagery depicts a traditional Siberian Yupik hunting scene featuring 3 polar bears, 2 walruses, one large black and white whale, a small white whale, a seal, a fish or possibly a weight with an attached rope and harpoon.
It's in good, natural antique condition, the color is gray with amber variations, etched in black and white, with four tiny mounting holes for its historical display. It has a 4" minor split at the narrow tip by the signature. While the piece is not dated, my father either bought it or it was gifted by Roger Silook sometime after we moved to Alaska in 1975. My dad would have acquired this between the late 70's to early 80's
Dad was a salesman for NC Machinery/Caterpillar Equipment during the construction of the Trans-Alaskan Pine line. Alaska was his territory and besides spending a lot of time on the north slope, he also went to many Alaskan villages and sold heavy equipment there too. Which is where he met Roger Silook and acquired the baleen. See less