Eskimo Baleen Boat

Antique American Indian Art Verified independent store

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Mid/Late 20th Century 6" H x 8.125" L x 2.375" W Hand Crafted with Rare Light Colored Gray Whale Baleen Sails over Dark Bowhead Whale Baleen Boat Excellent Condition An Eskimo bale en boat typically describes a miniature model boat crafted by Alaskan Indigenous artisans, primarily from baleen—the flexible, keratin-based plates that bowhead whales use to filter food. These are not functional full-size vessels but intricate folk art sculptures or decorative pieces, often created as souvenirs, collectibles, or cultural items in the mid-20th century and later. They draw inspiration from the traditional umiak (also spelled umiaq or oomiak), a large open skin boat historically used by Inuit, Iñupiat, and Yup'ik peoples for whaling, transporting families, and summer travel in Arctic waters. Show more