Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Collection overview
The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian holds a large group of Spratling works connected to his 1949 Alaska project for the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, including prototypes that were never put into production. It is the key public collection for that late chapter of his career.
Individually documented works
67 works
William Spratling
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Ashtray
1945-1949 · Silver, gold, jade; techniques: Cast, gilded, carved · 4.5 x 4.5 x 1.4 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Ashtray
1945-1949 · Silver, gold, jade; techniques: Cast, gilded, carved · 5.9 x 6.6 x 1.5 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Ashtray
1945-1949 · Silver, bear tooth/teeth; techniques: Hammered, polished, riveted · 8.1 x 7.3 x 3.4 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Ashtray
1945-1949 · Silver, fossil ivory; techniques: Hammered, carved · 1.2 x 6.6 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Ashtray
1945-1949 · Silver, fossil ivory; techniques: Hammered, carved · 3 x 6.2 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Bell
1945-1949 · Silver, fossil ivory; techniques: Hammered, engraved, carved, incised · 12.7 x 5 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Belt buckle
1945-1949 · Silver, gold, jade; techniques: Hammered, gilded, inlaid · 5.2 x 10.2 x 1.1 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Belt buckle
1945-1949 · Silver, fossil ivory, baleen; techniques: Cast, carved, mosaic inlay · 3.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Belt buckle
1945-1949 · Silver, gold, ivory; techniques: Carved, hammered, gilded · 8.1 x 4.2 x 0.9 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Belt buckle
1945-1949 · Silver, baleen, ivory; techniques: Cast, mosaic inlay · 3.8 x 5.4 x 1.1 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Belt buckle
1945-1949 · Silver, ivory; techniques: Hammered, carved · 4.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Belt buckle
1945-1949 · Silver, fossil ivory, baleen, metal tacks/bosses; techniques: Cast, carved, studded · 7 x 3.1 x 1.1 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Belt buckle
1945-1949 · Silver, gold, ivory, metal jewelry findings; techniques: Cast, gilded, carved, bezel-set/stone-setting · 7 x 2.1 x 1.5 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Belt buckle
1945-1949 · Silver, baleen, ivory; techniques: Cast, inlaid · 2.8 x 6.4 x 1.3 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Belt buckle
1945-1949 · Silver, ivory, baleen; techniques: Cast, inlaid · 3.1 x 5.7 x 1.3 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Bowl/Dish
1945-1949 · Silver, gold, ivory; techniques: Hammered, carved, gilded · 16.2 x 7.5 x 7 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Bracelet
1945-1949 · Silver, gold, ivory; techniques: Hammered, gilded, carved · 5.7 x 9.8 x 2 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Bracelet
1945-1949 · Silver, gold, ivory; techniques: Cast, gilded, carved, bezel-set/stone-setting · 6.5 x 4.9 x 2.4 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Button
1945-1949 · Ivory, silver; techniques: Carved, hammered, incised · 2.2 x 2.5 x 1 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Button
1945-1949 · Fossil ivory, silver; techniques: Carved, hammered, incised · 3 x 2.5 x 0.9 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Button
1945-1949 · Ivory, silver; techniques: Carved, hammered, incised · 1.1 x 2.5 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Button
1945-1949 · Baleen, ivory, silver; techniques: Carved, inlaid, hammered · 1.3 x 1.9 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Button
1945-1949 · Ivory, silver; techniques: Carved, hammered, incised · 2.8 x 1.1 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Button
1945-1949 · Ivory, silver; techniques: Carved, inlaid · 1.3 x 2.6 cm
Works in other media
Paintings, prints, drawings, and archival collections by the makers documented in this directory. These are labeled by medium and are not counted in the silver-object totals.
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Brooch/Pin
1945-1949 · Ivory, gold, baleen; techniques: Hammered, carved · 9 x 3.8 x 1 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Brooch/Pin
1945-1949 · Fossil mammoth ivory, baleen, gold, metal jewelry findings; techniques: Carved, hammered, inlaid · 1 x 5.7 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Brooch/Pin
1945-1949 · Fossil ivory, gold; techniques: Carved, polished, hammered · 8.2 x 3.8 x 1 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Cigarette holder
1945-1949 · Ivory, gold; techniques: Carved, inlaid · 12.7 x 1.5 x 1.3 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Cigarette holder
1945-1949 · Ivory, gold, baleen; techniques: Carved, inlaid · 12.7 x 1.5 x 1.3 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Cuff links
1945-1949 · Gold, baleen, ivory, gold jewelry findings; techniques: Hammered, carved, inlaid, polished · 2.2 x 1.7 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Cuff links
1945-1949 · Baleen, ivory, gold, gold jewelry findings; techniques: Carved, polished, hammered · 2.6 x 1 x 2.3 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Earrings
1945-1949 · Ivory, gold, metal jewelry findings; techniques: Carved, polished, hammered · 1.8 x 2.8 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Earrings
1945-1949 · Ivory, gold, metal jewelry findings; techniques: Carved, polished, hammered · 4.7 x 2.8 x 1.3 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Earrings
1945-1949 · Fossil ivory, gold, metal jewelry findings; techniques: Carved, polished, hammered · 2.9 x 1.9 x 2 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Knife
1945-1949 · Ivory, baleen, steel blade; techniques: Carved, inlaid · 17.5 x 1.3 x 0.7 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Knife
1945-1949 · Stainless steel, baleen, ivory; techniques: Carved, riveted, inlaid · 13.9 x 2.7 x 0.8 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Knife
1945-1949 · Ivory, baleen, steel blade; techniques: Carved, inlaid · 21.2 x 1.4 x 0.7 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Knife
1945-1949 · Baleen, ivory, steel blade; techniques: Carved, inlaid · 21 x 2 x 0.7 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Necklace
1945-1949 · Walrus Ivory, gold; techniques: Carved, polished, hammered, strung · 42.2 x 2.2 x 1 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Necklace and bracelet
1945-1949 · Fossil mammoth ivory, gold; techniques: Carved, polished, cast · 42.9 x 0.8 x 1.9 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Necklace with pendant
1945-1949 · Fossil ivory, gold, metal wire; techniques: Carved, polished, strung · 19.7 x 16.2 x 1.3 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Necklace with pendant
1945-1949 · Ivory, gold; techniques: Carved, polished, cast, strung · 38.8 x 6.1 x 1 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Pendant
1945-1949 · Fossil ivory, baleen, gold; techniques: Hammered, carved, inlaid, soldered · 11.2 x 10.4 x 0.8 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Pendant
1945-1949 · Ivory, baleen, paint, metal jewelry findings; techniques: Carved, inlaid, incised, painted, drilled · 6.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 cm
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Walrus cuff links
1945-1949 · Baleen, walrus ivory, gold; techniques: Carved, hammered, polished · 3 x 2.1 cm
Holdings are compiled from the institution's own published collection records, museum labels, and documented first-person study, and verified before listing. Only individually identified silver objects count toward the documented-works total; institution-reported collection totals are listed separately, and related works in other media (paintings, prints, drawings, archives) are labeled by medium and never counted. Images appear only where the institution's license permits or from our own in-gallery photography, credited, and are removed on request. See an error? Submit a correction.