Vintage James Omiak Bracelet of Alaskan Creatures

About the Piece:

In a departure from Southwestern Native American jewelry is this charming Indigenous bracelet from the Northwest Coast. The darling vintage piece was handmade by James Omiak from Little Diomede Island, an Inupiaq region of Alaska. 

James Omiak lived from 1933-2021 and carved bone and ivory from the time he was just 9 years old. 

His precious handmade bracelet alternates between carved black and white segments of baleen and fossilized walrus ivory. Each white segment is carved with an animal from Alaska. There's an adorable fox, a venerable walrus, a majestic polar bear, a playful seal, and a graceful whale. Somehow James Omiak has bestowed the animals with their own little personality. It's so easy to fall in love!

The contrasting segments are strung on two pieces of stretchy elastic to form an almost sculptural looking band. Bracelets of this style are especially striking when stacked with others from the Northwest Coast region creating a layered, textural look.

This bracelet comes from the estate of a married couple who spent more than sixty years together. From the time they were young newlyweds, collecting Native American jewelry was one of their greatest shared passions, and they continued building their collection throughout their long marriage. Turquoise & Tufa has had the privilege of handling pieces from their collection for the past five years. This couple had 5 or six Northwest Coast pieces in their collection, and Turquoise & Tufa is now down to just two: this one and the fierce polar bear bracelet.

This bracelet measures 6 1/4" inside and is signed. Since it's on elastic, it stretches to go over your hand. Keep in mind that the bracelet is vintage and the original elastic remains in place. It still retains some stretch, but it does need to be handled with care. One day this will need to be restrung. If you're a DIY'er, you can do it fairly easily with new elastic. Otherwise, most jewelers can do the restringing. 

In the May 2007 issue of "AGLUKTUK" the following was written of James Omiak: "James is 73 years young and has been happily living with Mary Killarzoac for many, many years. James has nine children: Fred, Brenda, Stella, Jimmy, Rudy, Dean Pushruk, Roy Agloinga, Diane Miller, and Susie Omiak. At the age of nine, James started carving bone and ivory. He learned from his uncle and watched what the other boys carved. James has loved carving ever since. During Eskimo dance practice he enjoys drumming and watching the dancers. James always has a smile for everyone he meets." No wonder such a special bracelet came from his skilled hands.

Summary:

Item:
Vintage Northwest Coast Indigenous carved bracelet

Attribution:
James Omiak (Little Diomede Island, Alaska – Inupiaq region)

Materials:
Fossilized walrus ivory and baleen on elastic cord

Dimensions:
6 1/4" inner circumference (stretch fit)

Signature:
Signed

Provenance:
From the estate of a longtime married couple who spent over sixty years collecting Native American jewelry, including a small group of Northwest Coast pieces