Jewelry box (nipperask / nipperdosa), Snuff box (snusdosa)

NameJewelry box with lid

CultureSouth Sámi

Dateca. 2023

Place madeVilhelmina, SWEDEN, Scandinavia, Europe

Mediumcarved moose antler, alder bark pigment

Dimensions4 7/8 × 1 1/2 × 1 3/4 in. (12.3825 × 3.81 × 4.445 cm)

Credit LineIFAF Collection

Object numberFA.2023.25.2ab

Provenancepurchased directly from artists for MOIFA collection (during 2023 field research trip and couriering a return loan to Sweden)

DescriptionSmall enlongated box with lid made of moose antler and lid designs stained with alder bark pigment (dark reddish brown color). The bottom main compartment is a long smooth oval shape without any designs. The lid is carved delicately in a banned cross-hatching or woven pattern. South Sámi designs are typically geometric and repretitive. According to Sven-Åke, this is one of 25 known historical South Sámi patterns. He engraves with a knife and pigments the incisions with alder bark powder. When working a pattern like this, he completes all the lines running in one direction, then rotates the box to complete the next set of lines, and so on.