Please use the below links to view the ahgupuk galleries, yesteryear souvenirs along with greeting & note card pages

Welcome to the George Ahgupuk Yesteryear Souvenirs page, please scroll down to view

Formerly of the W. G. Ambos collection

Carvel Hall steak knives by Briddell with Ahgupuk scrimshaw
Row 1 Alaskan cache, eskimo dragging seal and Eskimo driving reindeer sled
Row 2 hunting seal, polar bear, bearded seal and walrus

From the Zuppke collection

Ahgupuk lamp shade and antler base and finial

From the Sweeney collection

Both of the holders had the following information typed on paper
This (napkin) letter holder is handmade at Alaska Woodcraft in Eagle River, (Alaska), 14 miles north of Anchorage, from seasoned Alaska paper birch
Original ink sketch by Eskimo Artist George Ahgupuk or Robert Mayokok
the holder is lacquered for performance

From the Sharp Family collection
In care of Linda Sharp Williams

from the Sweeney collection

Examples of unauthorized ahgupuk reproductions

ladies metal compacts in square and oval shape – unauthorized reproductions

From an Alaskan history collector

From the Sweeney collection

“Alaska woodcraft”
Tony and Betty Bockstahler
Eagle River, Alaska
Alaska Woodcraft formerly located at Eagle River

From the private collection of Boo Rody

Ahgupuk lampshade with four different panels
the lamp itself is marked “handmade originals, Nobby Studio, 1029 e. 12th, Anchorage, Alaska” purchased in 1973

from the R. Gordy collection

pen knife with leather sleeve with Ahgupuk art

From the Schmiemeier collection

Ahgupuk lamp shade with polar bear, sled dog team, blanket toss and Eskimo dancers with antler base and finial

From the Lou Nelson collection

Ahgupuk caribou scene on yellow ceramic bowl

From the Mrs. Mary Sundt

we would like to thank Mrs. Sundt for her generosity, for her time and valuable research
happy anniversary
George Ahgupuk
four reversible placemats
from drawing by noted Alaska Eskimo Artist

George Ahgupuk was born in 1911, in the lonely, wind-swept village of Shishmaref in the Northwestern Alaska, grew up there within sight of Russian Siberia.

In 1934, suffering from a leg ingury which occurred while he was hunting. Ahgupuk visited the Alaska Native Service Hospital in Kotzebue for an operation, then six months in a cast.

While in the hospital, Ahgupuk started sketching with a rough pencil on any paper he could lay hands on. He aroused the interest of nurse Nan Gallagher, who bought him paper and crayons and encouraged him to make Christmas cards for her. He made a dozen, for which she paid him $2.00 – the first money he received from his drawings. Before he left the hospital for Shishmaref he had $10.00 in his parka – a veritable fortune.

At home Ahgupuk had no paper for drawings, so he tried reindeer hide and seal skin. He devised a process of tanning and bleaching skins which added much to his unique art style.

Rockwell Kent, the famous artist, visited Alaska in the late 30’s and was enthusiastic over Ahgupuk’s picture drawings. On his return to the States he told of the artist’s genius in the New York Times and in Time Magazine. The American Artists Group invited him into membership, and two of his pictures were hung in the Weyle Gallery in New York. Overnight, this heretofore unknown Eskimo youth became a renowned artist.

Ahgupuk has since illustrated a book of Eskimo legends, “Igloo Tales”, by the distinguished late Edward L. Keithahn, and his work is in the permanent collections of the Anchorage Historical and Fine Arts Museums, the Alaska State Museum at Juneau, and in many galleries and private collections throughout the world.

From the Fred Bystedt collection

Ahgupuk artwork – plastic cover placemats “copyright mcmlxxiv by Griffin’s – Alaska

18 reproduction of paintings by Alaska’s most distinguished artist George Ahgupuk
copyright 1953 by Deers Press, Seattle WA

From the Sweeney collection

Queen Anne Vilettas Arts h76-3 and e76-6

From the Mrs. Sandra Sword collection

Weatherby Hanley – Viletta Arts ceramics 1-70

From the Sweeney collection
other Ahgupuk collectibles

Photograph of George Ahgupuk in fur parka, backside deck of cards with Ahgupuk drawing and totem pole, Alaska leather-like carrying card case with metal snap – sled dog team with “Alaska” on cover

From the Kevin and Diane Corbet collection

Alcraft Alaska wood with Ahgupuk eskimo hunting seal scene