Walrus tusk with incised and darkened scenes; wolf and four bears on one side, three caribou, one Dall sheep, one wolverine on other side. Signed "Kakarook.
Donor:
Phoebe Apperson Hearst
Collection place:
Lower Yukon, Yukon, Yukon-Koyukuk Borough
Culture or time period:
Alaskan Eskimo
Maker or artist:
Guy Kakaryook and Joe Kakaryook
Collector:
Charles L. Hall
Collection date:
1895
Materials:
Ash (wood) and Ivory (material)
Taxon:
Odobenus rosmarus
Object type:
ethnography
Function:
1.6 Manufacturing, Constructing, Craft, and Professional Pursuits
Accession date:
August 12, 1902
Context of use:
Novelty.
Department:
Native US and Canada (except California)
Dimensions:
length 49 centimeters
Comment:
Ivory carvings, often with rich narrative scenes, were popular as trade items after the coming of European whalers in the late 19th century. The art of bone or ivory engraving, however, is an ancient practice in Eskimo culture (Treasure of the Lowie)
Loans:
S1962-1963 #60: Department of Anthropology (UC Berkeley)/Vincent Evans (June 17, 1963–June 17, 1963)