Native American, Northwestern United States, Alaska, Inuit or Inupiaq, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A striking walrus ivory tusk, hand carved into a cribbage board with intricate scrimshawed motifs of animals and hunting scenes across the surfaces. The tusk is polished to even the surface for use as a score board face, and an ivory peg is added to the underside as a foot to balance the board, and at the tip is a large perforation for suspension. Two pairs of thirty incised holes within rectangular sections filled with black ink create the playing area, surrounded with a scene of caribou, a hand holding an antler, a man in boat hunting seals, and a sled dog. The other sides have fish and an encampment with a boat, and more walrus and seals basking on land and swimming. All is highly detailed and beautiful- suggesting the artis was very familiar with their natural surroundings! Size: 24.375" L x 2.375" W (61.9 cm x 6 cm)
For a similar example please see The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, catalog number: 25/1078.
This is an ESA antique exempt piece of ivory and cannot be sold internationally or to anyone residing in the states of California, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. We guarantee that the piece was made prior to 1972.
Provenance: private San Francisco, California, USA collection, acquired 1970s to 2000s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance),
we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#170442
Condition
Intact and excellent. Minor surface wear and nicks from use. Natural black striations in surface. Fabulous preservation to details! The piece is functional as a cribbage board.