This small dish likely originates from one of the Iñupiaq communities on the Kobuk River in northwestern Alaska. Carved from driftwood, most likely spruce, it takes on an oval form that resists perfect symmetry, tapering gently toward the base. The surface has developed a patina through use, evidence of a life shaped by utility rather than display. Compared with more elaborate examples, its presence feels restrained, yet it conveys an understated eloquence of function. The exterior is coated in a red ochre wash, and within the basin a single grooved line circles the interior. This modest touch of embellishment does not diminish the simplicity of the vessel but deepens it, creating an interplay between surface and form that speaks to both continuity and care.

ND with FA