Gut Work

Gut, cut open and folded for seaming

Working on a new Unangan (Aleut) kamleika (raincoat) for Mikhail... his has some tears that can't be fixed...  These garments are waterproof and the hem connects to the Unangan baidarka (kayak) opening so no water goes into the interior of the boat even if it is swamped or the hunter goes underwater and rolls to the surface again.

Mikhail Snegirev in a gut kamleika
with pail of gut tubes behind and strips
of gut opened and folded for seaming

Unangan (Aleut) ivory work

Closed Crown Hunting Hat with Volutes & Back Plate

 I am working on a miniature version... say four inches long, of this hat for a figure I have completed.  Have carved, steamed & bent the hat then painted it.

Now for the "ivory" side pieces or volutes and the back plate.  I am using tagua nuts which from my experience are almost as hard as ivory.

A back view of a hunting hat shows the backplate and volutes with perched bird carved into the top.

An ivory flying bird is situated further down the hat top.  Illustrations are from the book Glory Remembered  Wooden Headgear of Alaska Sea Hunters by Lydia Black & published by the Alaska State Museum in Juneau Alaska.    

                    

Volute shapes & decorations, small versions & tools