Guy
A Fixture
54-017
Itivimiut Hunter, Canada 19th - 20th Century
54mm white metal
Sculpted by Martin Hille
7 parts
Itivimiut Hunter, Canada 19th - 20th Century
54mm white metal
Sculpted by Martin Hille
7 parts
Historical Note:
The Inuit People have inhabited the Arctic, a cold inhospitable wilderness, for hundreds of years. One group, the Itivimiut, lived on the Ungava Peninsula at the east coast of Hudson Bay and were immortalized by Robert J Flaherty’s groundbreaking 1922 documentary film “Nanook of the North”. Flaherty portrayed the Ungava-Inuit’s traditional way of life. Being semi-nomadic hunters, they exploited the resources of the vast area north of the tree line, especially sea mammals in the coastal waters, and also occasionally moved inland to hunt caribou. During the summer, they lived in conical skin tents. Igloos made of blocs of packed snow were used as temporary dwellings on winter hunting trips while the more substantial semi-permanent winter houses were made of more durable materials.
Our figure is based on the film’s chief character whose real name was actually Allakariallak. Here he is shown waiting for his prey at a seal’s breathing hole in the sea ice. He is armed with a harpoon sporting a detachable toggle-head. The spiked rear end of the Harpoon serves as an ice-chisel. A snow-knife made of bone and a cutting knife with a metal blade complete his hunting equipment. He is dressed in a parka made of sealskin and trimmed with wolverine fur. The beautiful designs on the garment were achieved by insetting strips in contrasting colours from various parts of the animal's body. A parka like this is in the collection of the McCord-Museum in Montreal, Quebec. Allakariallak’s trousers made of polar-bear skin are an indication that he is a fearless hunter. Inuit winter dress consisted of two layers of skin clothing and was proof against the coldest weather. Our Hunter also wears waterproof boots of dressed sealskin. A pair of snow-goggles made of driftwood protect the hunter’s eyes from snow blindness.
The Inuit People have inhabited the Arctic, a cold inhospitable wilderness, for hundreds of years. One group, the Itivimiut, lived on the Ungava Peninsula at the east coast of Hudson Bay and were immortalized by Robert J Flaherty’s groundbreaking 1922 documentary film “Nanook of the North”. Flaherty portrayed the Ungava-Inuit’s traditional way of life. Being semi-nomadic hunters, they exploited the resources of the vast area north of the tree line, especially sea mammals in the coastal waters, and also occasionally moved inland to hunt caribou. During the summer, they lived in conical skin tents. Igloos made of blocs of packed snow were used as temporary dwellings on winter hunting trips while the more substantial semi-permanent winter houses were made of more durable materials.
Our figure is based on the film’s chief character whose real name was actually Allakariallak. Here he is shown waiting for his prey at a seal’s breathing hole in the sea ice. He is armed with a harpoon sporting a detachable toggle-head. The spiked rear end of the Harpoon serves as an ice-chisel. A snow-knife made of bone and a cutting knife with a metal blade complete his hunting equipment. He is dressed in a parka made of sealskin and trimmed with wolverine fur. The beautiful designs on the garment were achieved by insetting strips in contrasting colours from various parts of the animal's body. A parka like this is in the collection of the McCord-Museum in Montreal, Quebec. Allakariallak’s trousers made of polar-bear skin are an indication that he is a fearless hunter. Inuit winter dress consisted of two layers of skin clothing and was proof against the coldest weather. Our Hunter also wears waterproof boots of dressed sealskin. A pair of snow-goggles made of driftwood protect the hunter’s eyes from snow blindness.
Thorsberg Miniatures has released a beautiful rendition of an Eskimo Seal hunter and is cast is white metal with 6 white matal parts and a coil of wire to simulate the rope that is around his shoulder and also hooked to his spear.
This kit comes well packaged in a cardboard box with a slip cover sleeve. Historical note and color guide are also included in the kit.
This kit comes well packaged in a cardboard box with a slip cover sleeve. Historical note and color guide are also included in the kit.
Above you see the four sides of the head showing the detailed snow goggles as well as the ethnic look of the facial features.
Above you have the four sides of the torso ahowing the highly detailed fur design of his Seal coat and fur pants.
[ continued in next posting ]
Also by Schleich, a 1/32 Killer whale I believe (my personal favourite to combine with this figure would be a Bowhead whale though)
