Walrus Tusk Ivory engraved with pictures of everyday activities

Iñupiaq

1 of 5

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

Culture

Iñupiaq

Title

Walrus Tusk Ivory engraved with pictures of everyday activities

Date

19th century

Medium

Walrus Tusk Ivory

Classification

Sculpture

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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