Ivory and slate ulu / Arctic, Inuit

Essay/Description

Inuit blades with ivory handle used for skinning.

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Anthropology Item Information

©Gilcrease Museum

Title(s):

Ivory and slate ulu

Culture:

Arctic, Inuit

Date:

1800s

Period:

Historic

Place:

Alaska

Materials/Techniques:

Ivory, Slate

Classification:

Archaeological Objects

Object Type:

Ulu

Accession No:

84.2143

Department:

Anthropology

Collection:

Kravis Discovery Center

Not On View

Dimensions

Overall:

Height: 0 53/100in. (1.3cm)
Width: 2 23/100in. (5.7cm)
Length: 3 19/64in. (8.4cm)

Tags and Search Terms

Tags:

Alaska, Arctic, Eskimo, implements, Indian, Indians, Native American, tools

Inuit women use ulu knives for numerous jobs, including skinning animals and preparing food. The curved blade allowed women to use a rocking motion when cutting, which held the cut object still and allowed for the use of only one hand.

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Cite this Page

Ivory and slate ulu. 84.2143. Kravis Discovery Center. 1800s. Tulsa: Gilcrease Museum, https://collections.gilcrease.org/object/842143 (08/31/2017).

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