Walrus Tusk Ivory engraved with pictures of everyday activities
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Object Label
These two engraved objects, a walrus tusk and a sperm whale tooth, encapsulate aspects of Indigenous Arctic life, particularly the use of natural materials and the importance of hunting. The tusk is decorated with depictions of men hunting walrus in boats, of village huts, and of women preparing food. The tooth presents a variety of hunting scenes in which men chase a walrus, harpoon a whale, spear a bear, and aim bows and arrows at a caribou. One especially intriguing scene shows three men dancing and holding circular drums.
Caption
Iñupiaq. Walrus Tusk Ivory engraved with pictures of everyday activities, 19th century. Walrus Tusk Ivory, 27 3/4 x 2 x 3 1/4 in. (70.5 x 5.1 x 8.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, A. Augustus Healy Fund, 44.34.3.
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Culture
Title
Walrus Tusk Ivory engraved with pictures of everyday activities
Date
19th century
Geography
Place made: Point Barrow, Alaska, United States
Medium
Walrus Tusk Ivory
Classification
Dimensions
27 3/4 x 2 x 3 1/4 in. (70.5 x 5.1 x 8.3 cm)
Credit Line
A. Augustus Healy Fund
Accession Number
44.34.3
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