It took Ulla more than 20 years offshore paddling experience in her baidarka to figure out that she might need a „chagudax“...

It just happens within a vivid discussion among master boatbuilders.

A „chagudax“ – meaning „open wooden hat“ in the Unangam Tunuu language (Eastern Aleut dialect) – is a traditional bentwood visor that was part of the Aleut paddler´s gear. These seal hunters shielded their eyes with a chagudax from bright sun and spray. The visor´s shape even helped them to hear better.

Now, back to the discussing boatbuilders: Their workshop is in only a few feets´s distance. It takes less than 5 minutes to grasp some scrap wood. A pencil is drawing the outlines what we´re thinking might look like a visor and then these are cut out with a jigsaw. Step two is soaking this piece of wood, bend and clamp it - done! Meanwhile Ulla browses through our museum´s library. Backed up by exhibition catalogues and books about the Aleut culture she gets an idea what to do next. Most time consuming is the art design on the visor´s topside. Now Ulla is proving her drawing skills and patience by using fine brushes and artist´s paints.

But still there´s something missing, something „special“, no matter what - got anybody an idea??

How it popped up and who threw this in - nobody knows – but THIS is it!

A tiny seal´s head at the front top of the chagudax! A small piece of soapstone was soon found and in less than 15 minutes it takes shape under Ulla´s fingertips. Now it is „hardening“ in our small enameling furnace.

Next is to work out details, doing a bit of beadwork, attaching a string to the visor etc.

Ulla´s chagudax is not finished yet but does look pretty good by now!

This was a fascinating crafting experience for all of us and maybe you noticed that Ulla´s chagudax is no longer the only one that is taking shape...


To learn more about Arctic kayaks: Baidarkas and Models of Arctic kayaks


back to Holzboot-Bau

chagudax  –

               the Aleut bentwood visor

An easy start

no more alone...

clamped to its shape

„eyes“ being attached

drawing the outlines

boiling the visor „plank“

creating the first colour effect

in the furnace

stone sculpting

final spurt... :-)

inside view

a happy seal