King Island Inupiaq Spirit Wheel by John Kokuluk Sr. (1912-1972). John Kokuluk Sr. was an Inupiaq carver from King Island, Alaska, known for his spirit wheel carvings, miniature ivory masks, and kayak and hunter carvings. This spirit wheel is made from walrus ivory with what looks like a muskox horn base, and features a central Human face surrounded by, clockwise from the top: Raven, Bad Shaman, Shaman Transforming, and Good Shaman. The piece is probably an early, experimental work based on the horizontal orientation of the spirit wheel (later ones were stood upright) and the numerous times that he signed every component of the composition. 4 1/2" x 3"

PERIOD: Mid 20th Century

ORIGIN: Arctic - Inuit, Native American

SIZE: 4 1/2" x 3"