{"product_id":"vintage-james-omiak-bracelet-of-alaskan-creatures","title":"Vintage James Omiak Bracelet of Alaskan Creatures","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Piece:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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 \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eInupiaq region of Alaska. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJames Omiak lived from 1933-2021 and carved bone and ivory from the time he was just 9 years old. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis 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!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe contrasting segments are strung on two pieces of stretchy elastic to form an almost sculptural looking band.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eBracelets of this style are especially striking when stacked with others from the Northwest Coast region creating a layered, textural look.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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 \u0026amp; 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 \u0026amp; Tufa is now down to just two: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/turquoiseandtufa.com\/products\/vintage-indigenous-northwest-coast-bracelet-of-polar-bears?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=69dd7840b\u0026amp;_ss=r\"\u003ethis one and the fierce polar bear bracelet.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the May 2007 issue of \"AGLUKTUK\" the following was written of James Omiak: \"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eJames 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 \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003edancers. James always has a smile for everyone he meets.\" No wonder such a special bracelet came from his skilled hands.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"149\" data-end=\"211\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"149\" data-end=\"158\"\u003eItem:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"158\" data-end=\"161\"\u003eVintage Northwest Coast Indigenous carved bracelet\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"213\" data-end=\"292\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"213\" data-end=\"229\"\u003eAttribution:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"229\" data-end=\"232\"\u003eJames Omiak (Little Diomede Island, Alaska – Inupiaq region)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"294\" data-end=\"361\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"294\" data-end=\"308\"\u003eMaterials:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"308\" data-end=\"311\"\u003eFossilized walrus ivory and baleen on elastic cord\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"363\" data-end=\"421\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"363\" data-end=\"378\"\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"378\" data-end=\"381\"\u003e6 1\/4\" inner circumference (stretch fit)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"423\" data-end=\"448\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"423\" data-end=\"437\"\u003eSignature:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"437\" data-end=\"440\"\u003eSigned\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"450\" data-end=\"625\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"450\" data-end=\"465\"\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"465\" data-end=\"468\"\u003eFrom the estate of a longtime married couple who spent over sixty years collecting Native American jewelry, including a small group of Northwest Coast pieces\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"445\" data-start=\"388\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"403\" data-start=\"388\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"406\" data-start=\"403\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"532\" data-end=\"602\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Turquoise \u0026 Tufa","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44274664374387,"sku":"CTT929","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1339\/2535\/files\/vintage-james-omiak-bracelet-of-alaskan-creatures-1581797.png?v=1773827231","url":"https:\/\/turquoiseandtufa.com\/products\/vintage-james-omiak-bracelet-of-alaskan-creatures","provider":"Turquoise \u0026 Tufa","version":"1.0","type":"link"}