A Bering Sea Eskimo Carved Walrus Ivory Snow Knife (1800 to 1900 Bering Sea)

Walrus Ivory

21.50cm high (8.46 inches high)

Provenance : Ex London Private collection

A Bering Sea Eskimo Carved Walrus Ivory Snow Knife
19 th Century

Size : 21.5 cm long – 8½ ins long
Wind packed snow is difficult to shovel but can be easily cut and shaped with a walrus ivory ‘knife’ . Snow blocks were also cut and used to make windbreaks and storage platforms long before the ‘Igloo’ or snow house was invented .