Creation Date

1931 – 1955

Description

"Carved Ivory Reindeer. This two inch long and one and one-half inch high reindeer is carved out of one solid piece of white ivory, including the tiny and intricately carved antlers. This figures is set on an ebony wood block. It is the most valuable piece of ivory in the collection." - Original card. "This was given to me by the first full blood Eskimo girl to graduate from college and to receive a college degree. She teaches home economics in Government Bureau schools and her name is Miss Louise Davis. She is one of the finest teachers I know." - From Indian Arts & Crafts book. Base stamped "JAPAN," probably recycled from another object. Ivory Carving has a long history in the Arctic and Subarctic. All the utensils, tools, and weapons were made by hand from ivory and other natural materials such as horn, bone, and animal hides. These same materials were used to make decorative objects. Traditionally, these decorative objects were also miniatures so that they could be transported easily by nomadic people. The color of the ivory changes with age. Fossilized ivory may be several thousands of years old. Its color can range from golden to brown or even black. These rare color ivories are more precious to Eskimo carvers than new white ivory.