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Bishop Fleming was Church of England Bishop of the Arctic from 1933
to 1949. His many visits by plane earned him the nickname "the
Flying Bishop." He began his career as a missionary, establishing
a mission in Lake Harbour in 1909. He lived in Lake Harbour
(now Kimmirut) until 1916, with some interruptions. In 1956, after
his death, his widow published his memories of his years in the Arctic.*
In the early 1960s, she donated three ivory carvings to the Canadian
Museum of Civilization. It can be assumed that Bishop Fleming collected
them during his years on Baffin Island. They are important because one
is the only documented example of scrimshaw – the technique of engraving
on ivory – among the CMC's items of historic Inuit.
*Archibald Lang Fleming
1956 – Archibald the Arctic. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc.
Walrus Tusk with Scrimshaw, 1912–1916
Baffin Island, Nunavut
Ivory, black colouring
5.5 diameter x 47.6 cm
CMC IV-C-4097
Gift of Mrs. Elizabeth Lukens Fleming, 1960
Collected by Bishop Fleming while living at the mission in Kimmirut
between 1909 and 1916
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Engraving narrative scenes on to ivory – generally referred to as
scrimshaw – seems to be a technique which was introduced to Inuit by
American whalers. The maker of this little scene had exceptional
graphic abilities. The dogsled scene in particular, with four dogs
followed by a puppy, is a charming little vignette.
Exhibition History:
Inuit: Quand la parole prend forme. Organized by the
Muséum d'Histoire naturelle de Lyon, Lyon, France, December 17,
2002 – July 20, 2003; Musée de l'Homme, Paris, France,
November 1, 2004 –April 30, 2005.
Whale Hunt (detail), 1912–1916
Baffin Island, Nunavut
Ivory, black colouring
CMC IV-C- 4097
Gift of Mrs. Elizabeth Lukens Fleming, 1960
Collected by Bishop Fleming while living at the mission in Kimmirut
between 1909 and 1916
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While one side of this scrimshaw tusk shows a winter dog-sledding
scene, the other side depicts whale hunting by umiak. A European
sailing boat can be seen in the distance. The artist demonstrates an
extraordinary ability to capture the complex scene with a few strokes
of his engraving tool.
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Owl, 1909–1916
Baffin Island, Nunavut
Ivory, black colouring
4.8 x 2.8 x 4.4 cm
CMC IV-C- 4095
Gift of Mrs. Elizabeth Lukens Fleming, 1960
Collected by Bishop Fleming while living at the mission in Kimmirut
between 1909 and 1916
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There are several indicators that this bird creature was made for
barter. Its feet, with claws pulled in as if for sitting on a perch,
have been glued on to give it support. Instead of being designed to
fit in a child's hand, it was made to sit on a surface, as a
decorative object.
Exhibition History:
Arctic Mirror. Canadian Museum of Civilization, Hull, Quebec,
January 25 – September 9, 1990. No catalogue.
Plaque, 1912–1916
Baffin Island, Nunavut
Ivory, black colouring
6.7 x 9.7 x 2.1 cm
CMC IV- C- 4096
Gift of Mrs. Elizabeth Lukens Fleming, 1960
Collected by Bishop Fleming while living at the mission in Kimmirut
between 1909 and 1916
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The plaque has two custom-made supports attached to it by ivory pegs.
It is clearly a souvenir item, made specifically for barter. There
would have been no use for it in traditional Inuit culture. Inuit in
the area of Kimmirut had been in sustained contact with American
whalers for decades, so that by the time Fleming established the
Anglican mission, a tradition of making souvenirs for barter must have
been firmly established.
Exhibition History:
Arctic Mirror. Canadian Museum of Civilization, Hull, Quebec,
January 25 – September 9, 1990. No catalogue.
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