Kayak frame - Lot 8

Kayak frame Inuit, Alaska or Greenland Carved wood L. 185 cm - W. 50 cm - H. 20 cm Kayaks play an important role in the lives of human groups living in the Arctic region, from Greenland to the far reaches of eastern Siberia. According to Yup'ik elder Frank "Miisaq" Andrew, "kayaks were crucial to survival. They were used for hunting, but also for gathering food. They had multiple uses" Paitarkiutenka / My Legacy to You. This wooden frame shows the structure of a kayak. Sewn sealskin strips covered the frame to ensure the boat's buoyancy. Two miniature kayak models, on display at the Musée de Boulogne-sur-Mer and the Museum of Ethnography in Saint Petersburg respectively, illustrate the construction of these complex, lightweight kayak frames.