Featured Maybe Inuit? Miniature Ivory

Discussion in 'Tribal Art' started by cxgirl, Sep 13, 2021.

  1. cxgirl

    cxgirl Well-Known Member

    Hi All,
    these were in a bag, I can tell ivory on the elephant and Buddha, the others I'm not sure. The green piece is not ivory:)
    do you think the bear, seal, walrus and baby seal piece are Inuit?
    any information appreciated
    thanks for looking:)

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    #1 is marked ivory, but I'm not seeing any lines on the pieces, they are polished to a high gloss (don't know if that makes a difference or not). I thought the base piece would be antler



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    #2 polar bear and walrus, no lines on them, looking at them underneath, it looks kind of yellow and spongy (if that makes sense) - would this be ivory?
    also, the seal looks to be signed on the base, I can't make any letters out
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    #3 the seal has the same yellow/spongy underneath at the polar bear and walrus, but I think I can see lines on it, very hard to say for sure.

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  2. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

  3. Hollyblue

    Hollyblue Well-Known Member

    Walrus ivory.... no lines.
     
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  4. all_fakes

    all_fakes Well-Known Member

    The spongy base is walrus ivory, so the walrus is definitely walrus ivory; the smaller seal does look Inuit, and ivory; the scrimshawed seal looks Inuit, and has a walrus ivory base; not sure what kind of ivory, as only the core of walrus ivory has that appearance, sometimes described as "oatmeal-like." I can't see the bear very clearly, but if you see that oatmeal-like appearance, it is walrus ivory.
    I've found that smaller Inuit ivory pieces often don't show any hint of Schreger lines; but with experience, they are pretty easy to ID.
     
  5. cxgirl

    cxgirl Well-Known Member

    thank-you all_fakes, that is great information:)
     
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  6. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    I can only add that the walrus ivory works are more than likely American Eskimo from Alaska.
    The green....likely jade !
     
  7. cxgirl

    cxgirl Well-Known Member

    thank-you komokwa:)
    from what I can find, walrus ivory is legal to trade/sell in Canada, will need paperwork if I want to ship outside the country.
     
  8. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    forget paperwork...none of it's that old.....:(:(
     
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  9. Janice Nicholls

    Janice Nicholls Active Member

    Very informative!
     
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  10. all_fakes

    all_fakes Well-Known Member

    In the US, natives may make handicrafts from walrus ivory; and they and non-natives may possess and sell such handicrafts, regardless of age - but of course, one needs the paperwork showing who made the item, unless it is signed by someone who can be proven to be native.
    Unsigned items without any paperwork can be problematic in many cases.
     
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