Greenlandic Inuit
Model Kayak
Inuit, 19th-early 20th century
Physical Qualities
Wood, muslin, skin, ivory, bone, 4 1/2 × 3 × 18 3/4 in. (11.4 × 7.6 × 47.6 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Bernice Barth, Los Angeles
Object Number
2003.162
These kayak models from Greenland are highly detailed miniaturized versions of real kayaks, complete with a variety of tools such as harpoons, paddles, and floats. Such artworks were popular souvenirs purchased by non-Native visitors to the region in the 19th to early 20th century. Developed thousands of years ago, kayaks were hunting tools essential to the survival of Inuit families across the Arctic. Crafted from carefully stitched animal skins covering a wood framework, kayaks were made to withstand punishing elements and keep hunting weapons safe in stormy conditions.
The Baltimore Museum of Art by gift 2003; Bernice Barth, Los Angeles
Darienne Turner, The Baltimore Museum of Art, “Arctic Artistry”, July 17, 2022 to January 8, 2023.
"New Exhibitions," BMA Today, no. 168, Spring 2022, p. 24, ill.
