Featured Double walrus pen holder, carved Ivory...........

Discussion in 'Tribal Art' started by komokwa, May 19, 2019.

  1. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    is it as old as I think it is ?
    Antique.....with that leaked ink , I bet they were made for fountain pens....with non standard drill holes....likely hand drillerd... IMG_5733.JPG IMG_5743.JPG IMG_5736.JPG IMG_5738.JPG IMG_5741.JPG

    6 1/4 x 3 x 1 1/2 inches.......it's a handful...
    Inuit or Eskimo ?
    Are they cute or not ?? ;)
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2019
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  2. judy

    judy Well-Known Member

  3. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

  4. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

    Avatar worthy, fer sure! :)
     
  5. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    That's a big ink stain on the bottom; it's enough to make you wonder. Something leaked all over it, but fountain pens are generally stored vertically to prevent just that. A dip pen would do it early and often.
     
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  6. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    Pre WWII?
     
  7. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    Got me; I know jack about Native ivory pieces, especially walrus.
     
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  8. pearlsnblume

    pearlsnblume Well-Known Member

    Ah, now I see what it is. Very interesting piece.
     
  9. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    thank you all...so far !:happy:
     
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  10. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    My understanding is that ballpoint pens became universally available around WWII and fountain pens stopped leaking around WWI.
     
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  11. johnnycb09

    johnnycb09 Well-Known Member

    That is so cool ! I wonder if its original purpose was more utilitarian,like to make nets or a hole puncher for leather or the like.
     
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  12. Ghopper1924

    Ghopper1924 Well-Known Member

    So, early 20th century? Super cool ivory piece, and no doubt a bit out of my $ ballpark.....
     
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  13. Mark London

    Mark London Well-Known Member

    Nice piece. I’m guessing maybe Alaskan and circa 40’s or 50’s.
     
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  14. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

    Johnny has a good point, why would the holes go all the way through? Maybe some other use?
     
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  15. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    but they don't go all the way thru...in the same diameter .... eh..huh !!!!
     
  16. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

    Ok :)
     
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  17. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

  18. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    Did it come with the rock or did you add it? It looks like a shark fin.
     
  19. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    it's an old Taino Celt ....or so I was led to believe by an Oceanic art dealer..

    it just found a home there.
    If I had it just laying about..... to the untrained eye...it's just a rock !
    Sometimes , old artifacts.....undescribed....or undocumented.... just look like rocks....but to have it in your hand.....you can feel that it didn't just wash up on the shore.
    So keeping it insight, where I can show it and play with it ...is a good idea.
     
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  20. Dawnno

    Dawnno Well-Known Member

    First, 'you lucky dog, you.' Nice piece.

    Next, I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm thinking possibly early 20th C. The walrii (walrussians??) do have an Inuit feel, but the underside seems to me like a fine incised pinnate leaf design with a tassel tip, and that's curious. and the flippers are kept simple too. So it almost has a 'sailor scrimshaw' feel to it too. As well as the utilitarian nature... so I'm thinking earlier than later.

    But I can't make up my mind b/c of the overall style and would not put it in the 'sailor' scrimshaw camp at all... more like catering to visitors.

    Found this modern artist with similar style, so it might show some stylistic continuity from earlier generation carvers. upload_2019-5-19_23-46-20.png
     
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