Oil lamp
hixtax^
“stone lamp”
Language:
Unangam Tunuu (Eastern Aleut dialect)
Stone lamps filled with seal or whale oil provided heat and light inside traditional Unangan houses. A woman who was cold could place a burning lamp between her feet and let the heat rise up inside her parka. Men carried small warming lamps for the same purpose when traveling and hunting.
Culture:
Unangax (Aleut)
Region:
Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Object Category:
Housewares
Dimensions:
Length 26.5cm
Accession Date:
1912
Source:
Mrs. E. Harriman (donor), John G. Brady (collector)
Museum:
National Museum of Natural History
Museum ID Number:
E274101