Such a treat to find this one along with a larger polar bear companion the other day—Alaskan Inuit, carved of walrus tusk, with tiny inked eyes, mouth, paws and tail. A total charmer I think, looking as if patiently waiting patiently waiting next to a hole in the ice hoping for a seal to emerge. Mid 20th c. or so I believe.
1 7/16” x 5/8 x 3/4 and in excellent condition.
NOTE: Cannot be shipped to California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington, which have bans on all forms of ivory, including walrus tusk. This is a contentious issue: in 2018, after aggressive movement worldwide to halt the poaching of African elephants for their ivory, U.S. states began to pass what indigenous Alaskans consider (and many others) consider overbroad laws banning the sale of all ivory, not distinguishing between elephant ivory and walrus ivory. While these blanket ivory ban laws are designed to help stop the horrific practices associated with the elephant ivory trade, they have unintentionally harmed the ability of Alaska Native people to effectively continue the respectful and responsible harvest of walrus in their communities. These laws also violate federal law as the harvest and sale of walrus ivory by Alaska Natives is protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which allow for traditional and customary practices and economies to continue using ivory from marine mammals.
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