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Engraved Tusk

Arts of the Americas

CULTURE Alaska Native
MEDIUM Walrus tusk, black ash or graphite, oil
  • Place Made: Alaska, United States
  • DATES late 19th century
    DIMENSIONS 14 13/16 x 2 5/16 in. (37.6 x 5.9 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas
    ACCESSION NUMBER 20.894
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Robert B. Woodward
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION The walrus tusk is engraved with different scenes, each having its own groundline in space. The scenes include: men netting fish or seal and birds flying above; men hunting bear and deer using spears and bows & arrows; large whale with spume coming out of its blowhole along with several fins in the water nearby; a dog sled; two bears wrestling and a man lassoing a bird.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Alaska Native. Engraved Tusk, late 19th century. Walrus tusk, black ash or graphite, oil, 14 13/16 x 2 5/16 in. (37.6 x 5.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Robert B. Woodward, 20.894. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 20.894_acetate_bw.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 20.894_acetate_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
    "CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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    Alaska Native. <em>Engraved Tusk</em>, late 19th century. Walrus tusk, black ash or graphite, oil, 14 13/16 x 2 5/16 in. (37.6 x 5.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Robert B. Woodward, 20.894. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 20.894_acetate_bw.jpg)