Antique Walrus Tusk Carving
My father told me this was an antique walrus tusk carving. It is approximately 10.5" long, 2.25" at its widest and weighs 1lb 7oz.
Never exhibited and was owned by my father. I do not know where he purchased it.
Inherited
Yes
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for the additional photos.
This has an interesting (bizarre?) combination of both Asian and Eskimo (Inuit, Aleutian or Inupiat tribes) influences.
If the carving was of a human, I would have said it was an Eskimo walrus tusk doll or Eskimo tool handle but the primate aspects suggest otherwise.
The Asian influence is so strong I think it is more likely that this is study carving for a Japanese netsuke, which were often made of walrus or marine tusk or ivory. The rudimentary quality of the carving, and lack of any signature, will keep the value down, almost certainly to within a few hundred dollars.
Based on the photographs and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:
An Asian (probably Japanese) carved walrus tusk
Late 19th / early 20th Century
10 ¼ inches long, 2 ¼ inches widest diameter
$200-300*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, and thank you for using Mearto.
Delia
It does look like a monkey with Asian influences in its design. Someone once told me it’s a particular type of Alaskan Eskimo carving. The back side opposite the monkey only has carvings of the backs of its arms. See new pics.