story knife

story knife, late 1800s–1948

Where object was made: District of Alaska or Alaska Territory (present-day Alaska), United States

Material/technique: carving; walrus tusk

Dimensions:
Object Length/Width (Length x Width): 29.5 x 4 cm
Object Length/Width (Length x Width): 1 9/16 x 11 5/8 in

Credit line: Gift of George W. Traw

Accession number: 2007.0584

Not on display

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Exhibition Label:
"Climate Change at the Poles," Jan-2009, Kate Meyer, Jennifer Talbott, and Angela Watts
Note on Ivory Restrictions
In the United States the sale and use of ivory is highly restricted. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1973, new marine mammal ivory may only be harvested and carved by the Alaskan Inuit. Only the Alaskan Inuit are permitted to hunt marine mammals, and even they are only allowed to hunt in a non-wasteful manner, which is understood to mean that the animals are hunted primarily for subsistence. The ivory that is harvested from mammals taken in compliance with this act may only be carved by an Alaskan Inuit. In order for the ivory to be sold to a non-Inuit, it must have been significantly altered; merely polishing the ivory or inscribing it with the name of the artist is not sufficient. Then the ivory must be sold to a registered agent before it can be sold to a non-Inuit. After these requirements are met, permits for ownership and transportation of the ivory must be obtained in order to demonstrate the legality of the purchase.