Seal Charm Buckle
nassiŋuaq “pretend seal”
3.7cm x 1.5cm x 1.3cm
Ivory
Ayaak (Sledge Island), Alaska (Iñupiaq), c. 1880
Collector: E. W. Nelson
Museum ID: NEL.C1.r.4601
This object was probably designed as a belt fastener. One end of the belt would be attached through a hole in the belly of the seal and the other end would be looped or wrapped around the seal fastener to keep the belt in place. The seal is wide, representing the health of a family through its well-fed stomach. Seal charms would have been used on a variety of clothing items and hunting paraphernalia because they were believed to help gain the cooperation of the animal spirits to aid in their capture and harvest.