Ivory Whale Fluke Baleen Basket Black & White Baleen
Outstanding whale baleen basket woven with black baleen together with the more rare white baleen, with a carved ivory whale fluke top and an ivory starter disk, signed by master baleen basketmaker John Hensley of Alaska.
The baleen rods are deep jet black baleen and the baleen used for the narrow-weft weaving of the basket varies from deep black, to various shades of gray to a creamy white color of the more rare white baleen.
Traditional round shape woven baleen basket with a tight fitting lid. The ivory carving has beautiful graining (difficult to capture in a photograph) and is expertly carved to depict the traditional whale fluke (tail) rising up out of the ocean.
John is an experienced Alaskan native Eskimo Indian with many years of whale baleen basketry experience. He specializes in the crafting of these popular and exotic whale baleen baskets. John is an Inupiaq artist and was born and raised in the northwestern community of Kotzebue. His Inupiaq name is Aqpayuk, or "he who runs fast". Mr. Hensley's specialty is baleen basketmaking he is renowned for his baleen basket work.
Woven Whale Baleen Baskets are a unique Indian handicraft crafted only in Alaska by native Eskimo Inupiaq Indians. Baskets made of baleen, the fibrous substance found in the mouths of plankton-eating whales, a malleable and durable material that once had commercial uses equivalent to those of plastics today, were first created by Alaska Natives in the early years of the twentieth century.
This finely woven baleen basket with black and white baleen measures 3.25" in diameter and stands 2.75" high. Signed on the ivory starter disk by J. Hensley.
SB622 - Ivory Whale Fluke Baleen Basket Black & White Baleen
$875.00 Available to USA ONLY!
