This bull walrus is carved out of a nice piece of walrus ivory with inlaid baleen used for the eyes. It is almost 3″ tall. The piece is signed by Dennis James Jr. of western Alaska
Scrimshaw was originally carved or engraved articles made by American whalers usually from baleen or whale teeth and bone. Native Alaskans have been using bone and ivory from walrus, mammoth and other animals for thousands of years as tools, utensils, weapons, and even armor. Today Alaskan artists use these same raw materials in their carvings and other scrimshaw artwork.