Baleen Basketry of the North Alaskan Eskimo

Baskets made of baleen, the fibrous substance found in the mouths of plankton-eating whales—a malleable and durable material that once had commercial uses equivalent to those of plastics today—were first created by Alaska Natives in the early years of the twentieth century. Because they were made for the tourist trade, they were initially disdained by scholars and collectors, but today they have joined other art forms as a highly prized symbol of native identity. Baskets of exquisite workma...