The Alaskan Eskimos were some of the most artistic of the Native Americans.
This is a collection of artifacts collected by Dr. L. M. Waugh, the Dental Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Service in the 1930's, appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
The Alaskan natives have the gift of transforming ivory into intricate works of art.
In the carvings below, the eyes of the sled dogs almost have eyelashes.
Polar Bears, walrus tusks, napkin rings, billikens and a colorful totem pole are all
carved in great detail. Cribbage boards are popular games that are usually inscribed
into the walrus tusks.
This plane was carved by an eyewitness to the crash of Wiley
Post and Will Rogers in 1934, in Barrow, AK.
Knives, forks, crochet hooks,
and letter openers are incised, then an oil or red ocher rubbed into the engraved area to
highlight the design.
An ivory necklace dating to the 1920's.
