Eskimo raincoat made of animal intestines

raincoat

ESKIMO ITEMS
Arctic Ocean
Before 1864
textile; walrus intenstines
overall: 54 x 20 x 10 in.

Eskimo waterproof raincoat, "gutskin" coat, or kamlaika. Made from dried strips of animal (likely seal or walrus) intestine and sinew thread; light brown/tan in color. Coat has a hood with drawstring face closure, and colorful border around the opening. Decorated collar around base of hood in colored line patterns of red, black, yellow, and green; same design around each sleeve's wrist. Horizontal seams run down the length of the hood and coat; vertical seams down the length of each arm. This type of raincoat was commonly made and used by Yup’ik and Aleut (Unangan) tribes to stay dry during hunting trips. The coats were purchased as souvenirs by whalemen visiting the Arctic, but they typically did not wear them on their voyages.

This coat was collected by Captain David Walker from his last voyage, which was aboard the GEORGE & MARY (1853-1857); The destination for this voyage is listed as "North Pacific Ocean and Elsewhere on a Whaling Voyage."

1939.1286