Wonderfully Primitive Walrus Tusk Carved Animal, Presumed Bering Sea Inuit antique sake bottle to her red lips

to her red lips

Number 20 from an edition of 50

and wooden dowels for legs--was made in 1935 by Mid-Land Novelty Co

I would guess this box dates to the late 19th century

but now the structure of the leaves makes me think they may be grapes

Wonderfully Primitive Walrus Tusk Carved Animal, Presumed Bering Sea Inuit antique sake bottle to her red lipsPure love. This fabulous creature was carved from walrus tusk, I believe by an indigenous carver from the Bering Sea area. I found another of a very similar animal form in a very similar manner described as a fox (image included in photos) that one 19th century and described as carved by a shaman for a hunter to carry as as a sort of amulet or charm. It is the relative crudeness and immediacy of the carving that make it wonderful to me (and that face,