Gut Skin Bag
imguĝdax̂ “sewing kit made of gut skin” or iduĝilgix̂ “bag; sack”
27 cm long x 23 cm wide
Walrus intestine, eider bird feathers, man-made material, bearded seal skin, sinew
Unalashka, Alaska (Unangax/Aleut), c. unknown
Collector: L. M. Turner
Museum ID: TUR.C1.fhiq.0139
This type of gut skin bag was commonly used to hold sewing tools and other small items. The body of this particular bag was most likely made from three pieces of walrus gut, which is waterproof when dried and joined using a waterproof stitch. The opening of the bag is adorned with a red fabric, which is likely from flour sacks traded by Euroamericans, as well as a strip of bearded seal skin and eider feathers. The drawstring closure is made of sinew. The bag is highly decorated, which suggests it was made for ceremonial rather than everyday use.