Walrus Sails & Sausage Skins

The Pitt Rivers Museum cares for a sail from an umiak, or women’s boat, collected from an Inuit group in the Hudson Strait in 1824. The sail is unique, in that it is made from strips of dried intestine, sewn together to make a large square sail – it is the only know example in a museum collection. Due to the size of the object and the very fragile material, it is not possible for the object to be on long-term display. Creating a rare opportunity to see this fascinating object, the Conservation team will put the sail on display for several days and will be on hand to talk about this special material and the conservation work carried out. Talks at 11.00, 12.00, 13.00 14.30 & 15.30