Bird before 1500

This collection of miniature animals, including a container woven of natural bark, was made by an unknown Inuit artist. The carvings are all made from a single material: walrus ivory, painstakingly carved and polished. Ivory has always been valued for its density and workability, which allows for fine detail. But its acquisition also implies a relationship to the natural world that goes far beyond mere resources, as it requires the death of an animal. Given the relatively small size of these figures, the amount of labor involved in their production is remarkable. Consider the patience and skill needed to bring them to life. Objects like these have often been dismissed as ethnographic curiosities, rather than appreciated for their artistic merit. But when we look closely at the material and making of these carvings, we can see that they represent a sophisticated synthesis of observation, skill, and cultural meaning. They ask us to reconsider the category of 'art' altogether, and to appreciate the ingenuity of human creativity in all its forms.