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Engraved Whale Tooth

Arts of the Americas

On View: American Art Galleries, 5th Floor, Trouble the Water
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.
CULTURES Yup'ik or; Iñupiaq
MEDIUM Sperm whale tooth, black ash or graphite, oil
  • Place Made: Alaska, United States
  • DATES late 19th century
    DIMENSIONS 6 1/2 × 3 × 2 in. (16.5 × 7.6 × 5.1 cm) mount: 6 1/2 × 3 × 1 3/4 in. (16.5 × 7.6 × 4.4 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas
    ACCESSION NUMBER 20.895
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Robert B. Woodward
    PROVENANCE Prior to 1909, provenance not yet documented; by 1909, acquired by Robert Blackburne Woodward of Brooklyn, NY; 1909, gift of Robert Blackburne Woodward to the Brooklyn Museum.
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    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Sperm whale tooth with engraved images depicting various aspects of hunting, fishing, and daily life. The scenes include animals such as walrus, bears, whales, fishes and dogs. The incised designs are filled with black pigment. Condition: fair and stable with some material loss towards wide end of the tooth.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in American Art Galleries, 5th Floor, Trouble the Water
    CAPTION Yup'ik or. Engraved Whale Tooth, late 19th century. Sperm whale tooth, black ash or graphite, oil, 6 1/2 × 3 × 2 in. (16.5 × 7.6 × 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Robert B. Woodward, 20.895. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 20.895_overall01_PS22.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 20.895_overall01_PS22.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2024
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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    Yup'ik or. <em>Engraved Whale Tooth</em>, late 19th century. Sperm whale tooth, black ash or graphite, oil, 6 1/2 × 3 × 2 in. (16.5 × 7.6 × 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Robert B. Woodward, 20.895. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 20.895_overall01_PS22.jpg)