Leilani : Yup'ik Ivory Carvings

Yup’ik Ivory Carving

 

Where skin sewing, doll making and

 basket weaving are

 traditionally considered women’s

 crafts - Ivory carving is solely a man’s craft. The ivory is derived from the tusk of the walrus, which is also a prominent meat source for the Yup’ik. In the old

 days, whole tusks were used to form arched entrances to the semi-subterra

nean homes the Yupik people lived in (igloos, were not part of this culture; this area does not have the right kind or amount of snow to build them with). Sometimes the tusks were etched with images of animals, birds and fish to bring good luck with hunting, this has evolved, and the carvings are now sold around the world. Ivory is such a durable and workable material that one old-time dog musher used it to make runners for his dog sled. Fresh whalebone is never used for carving, as it needs to be dried for many years.  Whalebone suitable for carving is often picked from beaches where it has been sun bleached, or dug from beaches where it has become mineralized with colors after many years of exposure.  Fresh ivory needs to be dried for a shorter period of time before carving.  Mineralized ivory dug from beaches is often used 

for carving and is characterized by wonderfully rich colors.

Strict laws mean that only Alaskan Natives are allowed to hunt walrus, or to possess un-worked walrus ivory. Only after the ivory has been noticeably reshaped  can it be taken out of the area. Walrus hunting and ivory carving are essential to the survival of Native peoples in the Bering Sea region.

http://www.sivertson.com/artistinfo.cfm/ArtistID/268

http://www.ravensjourneygallery.com/ walrus_gallery.htm

http://tundramedicinedreams.blogspot.com/2008/01/yupik-eskimo-crafts.html