Basket- A. Waghiyi, Walrus Stomach & Polar Bear Fur

Alaska Native Handmade beautiful, delicate and unique decorative basket made of Walrus Stomach, and adorned with dyed stomach cutout shapes, and plain and dyed Polar Bear Fur by master Siberian Yupik artist, Arlene Waghiyi from Savoonga, Alaska on St. Lawrence Island.

Arlene is one of only a few people who specializes in making baskets from walrus stomach. The process of preparing the stomach is time consuming and delicate. After the stomach is removed, she scrapes the edible lining from it slowly and gently, careful not to tear the stomach. Then, she soaks the stomach in water for at least three to four weeks. During that time, the water must be changed at least three times a day and kept cold.

Arlene makes baskets from the stomachs that were used traditionally to harvest and store greens, berries, roots and edible plants.  She likes to adorn the pieces with polar bear hair, bleached seal skin and traditionally dyed seal skin. John, who is a whaling captain, last harvested a polar bear nine years ago when he was out on the ice pack 27 miles from Savoonga.

Available in Blue & Red or Red & White