The polar bear or Nanuk, has played an important role in the cultural
and material life of the Inuit. The polar bear was the most feared and
respected of all land and sea animals. The Inuit have many legends that
show their deep respect for the polar bear. The Shaman may take on
the spirit of the bear and believe that their spirits were interchangeable.
After the polar bear was hunted, the skin and head were removed and
a feast was held in respect of the bear spirit. All parts of the bear were
used for food and clothing. The bear would provide much needed food
in the winter and its fur would be made into warm clothing i.e. pants,
mittens etc. When the Viking Norse arrived in Iceland and Greenland,
they encountered many animals such as walrus, seals, arctic foxes and
the mighty polar bear. To the Norse, the polar bear was known as the
“water bear”. The Norse pursued them and hunted the adult bears and
captured the cubs for export to wealthy clients in Europe and beyond.
This piece is a bronze version of the 2007 stone carving of the same name.