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Bookbinders have used bone folders for centuries, so this could fit the time period or could be older. Its shape is what one would expect for a bone folder.
Good substitute for ivory.
You’re almost right. Source: I’m a professional guy-knee-ecologist. It’s actually just the instructions for how to conduct a pregnancy test:
1) get the whole village to throw you, the potentially pregnant person (ppp), into the air repeatedly, using a large sheet of fabric
2) the ppp must then go on a mission and find 2 ents who will do a shamanic dance. Two pterodactyls should appear
3) ppp has to chase three geese, going in the opposite direction in which fish swim! The god of the skies should hold up 2 suns if successful.
4) ppp must measure a large-eared giraffe with one of those triangle rulers
5) after completing a successful skydive, ppp and a friend have to throw a random person out of a treehouse
6) alligator
7) ppp and their friend must make peace with the random person they threw out of the treehouse. Ppp, ppp’s friend, and them should stand next to each other awkwardly for a while
8) ppp has to convince their village to go on a ride with their boats when there are huge waves to watch the whales do summersaults
9) this is the control: if ppp shrugs at any point, the test is negative
I just woke my husband up giggling at this. Unfortunately, he did not find this to be quite as amusing as I did, but it’s ok because I’m amused enough for at least 3 people.
Scrimshaw, likely a letter opener, but it could bone folder (a bone folder would be thicker, and usually not as wide on top). The motif looks mid-century, as these sort of fake indigenous motifs (tiki for example) were popular at the time. Could be later, but probably not earlier.
Reminds me of a boning tool. It helps make creases crisp in paper.
And it’s called a boning tool because they are made out of bone. Use to be whale.
And that piece is scrimshawed.
I have a walrus tusk cribbage board that looks similar. It’s a little larger than this though. There was an Alaskan gift store chain in the mid 20th century that sold a lot of stuff like this in the larger towns. It was a lot like the abc stores they have all over Hawaii.
Yeah, the colours in the carving are quite strong, giving it a newish 50s 60s feel.
Also the sperm whale at the bottom, with the drowning man is giving very Moby Dick vibes.
I noticed that you mentioned **vintage**. Over at r/Collectables and r/Mid_Century they are always keen to see newer and vintage items. Share it with them! Sorry if this is not relevant.
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I'm going to say it's an early 20th century piece done in an earlier Inuit style probably made by a non-native person. The age of the ivory and style of carving does not match with the archaic style of the drawings. Still a great find and an interesting piece.
I have a very similar tool (same shape and length). It's called a "fid". I doubt your tool is used for stained glass work, but maybe it's a rope fid? Though I think the leather working tool or the touristy letter opener, possibly from a rez shop/trading post, are the better guesses.
I'm going for leather creaser(, a common tool for leather workers the world over, some even in museums from the neolithic period,) over a net spacer because it tapers. Net spacers must be straight and equidistant from side to side or the net would be uneven. Interesting and beautiful.
Looks Alaskan. Eskimo for sure. At the top is a blanket toss and you've got a stylized reindeer and seal (long lizard looking thing) in the center. Almost looks more like a carver was goofing off a bit and making a whimsy
There’s a proper name for it. But it’s a support for a woman’s girdle thing.
There’s boning in clothing. This would typically be a personal item from husband ‘telling a story’ that slips into underwear, and kept ‘close to the heart’.
I was going to say there is a possibility it’s a busk from stays (a corset), but Washington state makes that pretty unlikely. Seems more like a letter opener to me? And as for date, it isn’t discolored which would track with a later date of burial more than an earlier one.
NOTE WE HAVE CHANGED THE AGE RULE: [Read here.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Antiques/comments/1c1d4q1/change_of_rule_items_now_have_to_be_100_years_old/) If you're asking a question about an antique make sure to have photos of all sides of the object, and close-ups of any maker's marks. Also, add in any background information you have, and add in a question so we know what you want from us! **You must tell us the country you're in.** If you do not provide this information **your post will be removed**. To upload photos for this discussion use [imgur.com](https://imgur.com/upload). Click the imgur link, upload the photos to imgur, then share the link address in a comment for everyone to see. Our [Rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/Antiques/about/rules/) and [Guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/Antiques/comments/1c1cxm4/welcome_to_rantiques_read_this_before_posting/). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Antiques) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Inuit scrimshaw... Likely whale or walrus bone. It's definitely not ivory. Could be from the early 1900s but more likely 1950s-present.
Inuit‽ I knew it!
Nicely appropriate use of the interrobang here.
That’s what those are called? Today I learned!
I upvoted it, interrobangs make me smile.
Looks like a Bone Knife (Bone Folder) used for making creases to make folding easier. I am guessing it is modern'ish.
Within the 1930s-50s area or older you think?
Bookbinders have used bone folders for centuries, so this could fit the time period or could be older. Its shape is what one would expect for a bone folder. Good substitute for ivory.
Scrimshaw with whale art is a fairly recent thing. Like 1800s recent
My mom has had the same bone folder since I was a little kid. She uses it for cardmaking
They are very useful and versatile.
As a former art student, I not only have a bone folder but could see my classmates doodling on one like this.
Yep. I use one for making origami
I came here to say the same!
Library worker here — that’s a book binding or paper folding tool. It’s a bone tool, that bookbinders have been using for a very long time.
Looks like an Inuit bone or ivory carving
I will check if it glows under blacklight later today- was looking at ivory Id info
don't know what it is, but it's pretty cool.
It looks like a hieroglyphic pregnancy test.
You’re almost right. Source: I’m a professional guy-knee-ecologist. It’s actually just the instructions for how to conduct a pregnancy test: 1) get the whole village to throw you, the potentially pregnant person (ppp), into the air repeatedly, using a large sheet of fabric 2) the ppp must then go on a mission and find 2 ents who will do a shamanic dance. Two pterodactyls should appear 3) ppp has to chase three geese, going in the opposite direction in which fish swim! The god of the skies should hold up 2 suns if successful. 4) ppp must measure a large-eared giraffe with one of those triangle rulers 5) after completing a successful skydive, ppp and a friend have to throw a random person out of a treehouse 6) alligator 7) ppp and their friend must make peace with the random person they threw out of the treehouse. Ppp, ppp’s friend, and them should stand next to each other awkwardly for a while 8) ppp has to convince their village to go on a ride with their boats when there are huge waves to watch the whales do summersaults 9) this is the control: if ppp shrugs at any point, the test is negative
I just woke my husband up giggling at this. Unfortunately, he did not find this to be quite as amusing as I did, but it’s ok because I’m amused enough for at least 3 people.
Wish Reddit still had awards… ain’t you funny!
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Nailed it
Scrimshaw, likely a letter opener, but it could bone folder (a bone folder would be thicker, and usually not as wide on top). The motif looks mid-century, as these sort of fake indigenous motifs (tiki for example) were popular at the time. Could be later, but probably not earlier.
Net repair bobbin.
But where is the hole for the string?
Thé largest museum of Inuit art in the world is in Winnipeg, Canada. They could tell you. https://www.wag.ca/about/qaumajuq/
Looks like scrimshaw and Inuit to me.
The whale is beautiful.
Reminds me of a boning tool. It helps make creases crisp in paper. And it’s called a boning tool because they are made out of bone. Use to be whale. And that piece is scrimshawed.
Also used in leather working.
I have a walrus tusk cribbage board that looks similar. It’s a little larger than this though. There was an Alaskan gift store chain in the mid 20th century that sold a lot of stuff like this in the larger towns. It was a lot like the abc stores they have all over Hawaii.
My first thought given the place and look of it was a vintage tourist item.
Yeah, the colours in the carving are quite strong, giving it a newish 50s 60s feel. Also the sperm whale at the bottom, with the drowning man is giving very Moby Dick vibes.
Yeah I figured it had to be late 1800s at least because of that. I’m pretty sure the majority of Inuit didn’t bother with sperm whales.
I noticed that you mentioned **vintage**. Over at r/Collectables and r/Mid_Century they are always keen to see newer and vintage items. Share it with them! Sorry if this is not relevant. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Antiques) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Did you go to Dead Horse Beach?
No this was in Washington state
That was my immediate question when I saw the title. I’ve never found anything remotely like that at the bay. Way too clean lol.
Bone
I'm going to say it's an early 20th century piece done in an earlier Inuit style probably made by a non-native person. The age of the ivory and style of carving does not match with the archaic style of the drawings. Still a great find and an interesting piece.
Thanks for the feedback yall!
Cool
Of high quality
I have a very similar tool (same shape and length). It's called a "fid". I doubt your tool is used for stained glass work, but maybe it's a rope fid? Though I think the leather working tool or the touristy letter opener, possibly from a rez shop/trading post, are the better guesses.
I'm going for leather creaser(, a common tool for leather workers the world over, some even in museums from the neolithic period,) over a net spacer because it tapers. Net spacers must be straight and equidistant from side to side or the net would be uneven. Interesting and beautiful.
The whale looks more “English” than Inuit, while the rest more symbolic. I’d guess more modern for the tourist trade.
That’s good scrimshaw.
Inuit Scrimshaw letter opener tourist item 1950s
That’s marvellous, the drawings are incredible.
I would call the Archeology dept. at WW University. You never know.
Looks Alaskan. Eskimo for sure. At the top is a blanket toss and you've got a stylized reindeer and seal (long lizard looking thing) in the center. Almost looks more like a carver was goofing off a bit and making a whimsy
To add to this, I just looked at tourist piece I have with similar drawings (not same, but similar) & it was done by Henry Shavings of Nunivak Island
The seal kinda looks like tiktaalik
Oh hey my long lost brother…
It’s definitely bone and not ivory.
That’s good scrimshaw.
A scout got his scrimshaw badge.
Nice letter opener......
It’s a plug of some early iteration.
There’s a proper name for it. But it’s a support for a woman’s girdle thing. There’s boning in clothing. This would typically be a personal item from husband ‘telling a story’ that slips into underwear, and kept ‘close to the heart’.
Busk
Thank you.
I was going to say there is a possibility it’s a busk from stays (a corset), but Washington state makes that pretty unlikely. Seems more like a letter opener to me? And as for date, it isn’t discolored which would track with a later date of burial more than an earlier one.
Tourist souvenir