Demand for carved Eskimo ivory soared after 1848, as increasing numbers of European and American whaling fleets plied the Bering Sea and western Arctic Ocean. Sought-after items included cane and parasol handles, salt- and peppershakers, napkin rings, watch chains, snuff boxes, and eating utensils. This fork, knife, and spoon show delicate filigree work of which only a few carvers were masters.

Infinity of Nations: Art and History in the Collections of the National Museum of the American Indian
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The National Museum of the American Indian  |  George Gustav Heye Center  |  New York, NY

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