Let's Talk. . . Inuit Ivory Carvings September 18 2026

One of the most well known and highly sought after pieces of Inuit art are ivory carvings. These carvings can come in various forms, from scrimshaw-esque cribbage boards, collectable napkin rings and butter knives to, our focus today, animals.

To survive in the harsh arctic landscape, the lives of the people and the land became deeply intertwined. Inuit culture developed from a great respect for the land and the creatures that sustained them and began representing them in the items that decorated their lives. With a history that began in shamanic usage, these carvings were also used as toys and teaching tools, but as more Euro-American expeditions expanded into the arctic, interest grew in these objects.

As whalers, missionaries, and traders increased their contact with the Inuit communities and their interest in the small animals tokens as souvenirs grew. By the middle of the 1800’s, most of the art created by the Inuit was aimed at a ‘tourist’ market. Instead of tiny pieces that would fit into the palm of a hand meant for a nomadic life, larger pieces were produced and often given a base or stand – transforming the pieces into tabletop display items. The aforementioned cribbage boards, dice, games, models and toys also came from this new market of trade goods.

Ivory carvings also come from the Inuit practice of using all of the animal, and the material of the walrus or narwhal tusks is prized for its colors, texture, and as being one of the few items in the arctic that would not decay, unlike wood. The ivory animals and their origins provide us with a direct insight into how the Inuit view nature and their place within their environment. In fact, the Inuit do not think of their carvings as art, there is no word for “art” in the Inuit language. Instead they use “sananguagait”, meaning objects that are made or small replicas of real articles. These carvings come from a belief that the natural world is meant to be respected and honored, something that feels timely and important during this day and age.

*A note on language: Previously, the word used to describe Indigenous arctic dwellers was “Esk*mo”. This was a derogatory term that meant “eaters of raw meat” and the Inuit themselves see it as an insult and slur. Today, many prefer being known as Inuit (the singular of which is Inuk) or by their specific band. The term Inuit means the people, and we are moving toward that terminology out of respect.