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How did Inuit artists use walrus and mammoth ivory for everyday tools?
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ivory carving
Kinugumiut Inupiat incised walrus ivory shaman's figure, c. 1890; in the National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center, Smithsonian Institution, New York City.
Because early Inuit populations in northern North America lacked access to most useful metals, they relied on ivory from walrus tusks and buried mammoth tusks to create essential, utilitarian objects.1
These artists fashioned ivory into a variety of practical tools, including:
- Bucket handles
- Bow drills
- Pipes
- Harpoon shafts
- Needle cases
Beyond their functional utility, these items were often decorated with etched geometric patterns or gracefully curving fine lines. While some cultures, such as the Ipiutak, were known for their finely crafted ivory sculptures of real or imaginary animals, the primary use of ivory for many Inuit groups remained the production of durable goods necessary for survival in their environment.12