| Collection | ABDUA University of Aberdeen, Human Culture Collection |
| Object Name | Snow knife |
| 412 413 |
| Object Number | ABDUA:6247 |
| Other Number | E24+4 |
| Other Number Type | old number |
| Brief Description | Curved snow knife used to clear snow from clothing, 'ANNOUTAK' in bone, handle fixed with plaited tendon through four holes in the handle and four holes in the balde |
| Dimensions | L: 340mm, W: 68mm, D: 17mm |
| Materials | bone, sinew |
| Condition | Good |
| Completeness | Complete |
| Technique | carved, plaited |
| Maker | Inuit |
| Object Production Date | 1921-1924 |
| Place Key | North America, Canada, Arctic, Nunavut, Baffin Island, Hudson Strait, Cape Dorset |
| Association Type Place | findspot |
| Field Collector | Livingstone, John |
| Caption | "The Inuit of Arctic America lived and worked in sub-zero temperatures for most of the year. Their clothes were designed to withstand cold and wind, but frozen snow accumulated on clothing and a snow knife was needed to remove it, to keep it dry when taken off. Their snow-block houses gave a warm enough shelter to sleep and work in without needing the heavy outdoor clothing, and melted snow on clothes would make them too heavy and wet to wear the next day. This is a snow knife or 'annoutak' which was used to remove snow from clothing. It is made in two pieces, with a dense bone handle with a characteristic hook at the end to give a good grip. The handle is perforated with four holes where it joins the bone blade, which is also perforated, and the two are sewn together with plaited sinew. The blade is thinner than the handle, slightly curved and both edges are sharpened. The fixing of the blade to the handle is typical of many Inuit tools. This is probably because they chose the best material for each job, and also it allows broken pieces to be replaced. Although this type of knife often was made in one piece, and this could be a repaired one, it is possible that the two-piece knife may be a more resilient tool. The snow knife comes from Cape Dorset, Baffin Island, Canada and dates from the early 20th century."
Author: Feilden,Rosemary Date: 2000 Purpose: SCRAN
|
| Aquisition Source | Livingstone, Mary |
| Aquisition Date | 31/10/1968 |