Product Overview
This basket was handwoven by James Omnik of Point Hope, Alaska. It is made of whale baleen and walrus ivory. The finial on top is a whale tail carved from walrus ivory. The basket is approximately 4.5" in diameter and 5" high.
Baleen basket weaver James Omnik Jr. was born in Point Hope, Alaska, a village located on a spit of land jutting into the Chukchi Sea in Northwest Alaska.
James learned the skill of baleen basket weaving from his father, James Sr. and his uncle, the late John Omnik. His grandfather, the late George Omnik, is recognized for introducing many of the prominent features of Point Hope baskets including flat lids, wide wefts, shouldered-cylinder shapes.
James Jr. has developed his own style of baskets distinguished by a conical shape, wide wefts and coils, use of white baleen and a hand-carved walrus ivory whale’s fluke finial.
