Carved Walrus Ivory Seal Knife

Carved Walrus Ivory Seal Knife
walrus ivory, baleen
4.5" X 11"w X 1"d
knife: 1.5"h X 6"w X .75"d

Orville Ahkinga, Jr. carved this very unique knife from walrus ivory. This wonderful piece features a carved walrus ivory seal handle and ivory knife blade with a baleen accent. The blade is inserted into a carved walrus ivory sheath which is it pegged onto a fossil whalebone base. A small ivory seal is attached to the front of the sheath. Orville has also used baleen inlay for the seal’s eye and nose features.

Orville Jr. was born and raised on Little Diomede Island. The people of Diomede are excellent ivory carvers and skin sewers. He and his siblings grew up in a sod home, living a subsistence lifestyle and learning the traditional ways of his Inupiaq culture. His mother Dora Iyapana Ahkinga mastered splitting and sewing walrus skins and her skills included making parkas, mukluks, kuspuqs, sealskin pants, gloves, mittens, hats and all other types of clothing. His father, Orville Ahkinga Sr. was a successful skin boat captain, a role Orville Jr. assumed when his parents moved to Nome.

The piece is signed O. Ahkinga Jr., Diomede, AK. Please call or email arcticspiritgallery@gmail.com for more information.

Alaska Native ivory art is highly collectable but it is important to be an educated buyer. For more information refer to Alaska Native Ivory brochure from the U.S. Department of the Interior – Indian Arts and Crafts Board online: https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/iacb_alaska_ivory_brochure_2018_web.pdf