Most of the materials used to make Naulaq's art are found on the Alaskan coast, and are legally available only to the native peoples of Alaska.
The image to the left shows some of the various materials used in Naulaq's work. Click on an item to find out more about it.
From top to bottom, left to right:
Mastodon (2 peices)
Sheep Horn
Walrus Tusk (Ivory)
Walrus Tooth
Baleen
Slice of Sheep Horn
The image to the left shows some of the various materials used in Naulaq's work. Click on an item to find out more about it.
From top to bottom, left to right:
Mastodon (2 peices)
Sheep Horn
Walrus Tusk (Ivory)
Walrus Tooth
Baleen
Slice of Sheep Horn
Mastodon
The unique bark-like quality of chunks of tusk and bone from the long-extinct mastodon means that they are often mistaken for driftwood by tourists. Some people try to use them as firewood, only to find that they just won't burn. These pieces of fossilized ivory have littered many Alaskan coasts for over 10,000 years, evidence of the mighty beasts that once roamed those shores.
To learn more about mastodons, click here. (Opens in a new window.)
The unique bark-like quality of chunks of tusk and bone from the long-extinct mastodon means that they are often mistaken for driftwood by tourists. Some people try to use them as firewood, only to find that they just won't burn. These pieces of fossilized ivory have littered many Alaskan coasts for over 10,000 years, evidence of the mighty beasts that once roamed those shores.
To learn more about mastodons, click here. (Opens in a new window.)
Sheep Horn
Naulaq's jewelry boxes are made from sections of sheep horn, which is hollow in the middle. Sheep Horn comes from the the Dall Sheep and is harvested in the foothills of the Brooks Range in Northern Alaska. The horns are comprised of densley packed hair, and are used by the male sheep in defending their territory.
To learn more about Dall Sheep, click here. (Opens in a new window.)
Naulaq's jewelry boxes are made from sections of sheep horn, which is hollow in the middle. Sheep Horn comes from the the Dall Sheep and is harvested in the foothills of the Brooks Range in Northern Alaska. The horns are comprised of densley packed hair, and are used by the male sheep in defending their territory.
To learn more about Dall Sheep, click here. (Opens in a new window.)
Walrus Ivory
Walrus tusks provide the beautiful ivory found in Naulaq's carvings and pendants. The male and female walrus use their tusks for many things, such as maneuvering on the ice and over rocks, for fighting with other walrus, and for digging up feed from the ocean floor. The ivory used in Naulaq's work is harvested in the Spring off the coast of Cape Cruising Stern.
To see some of the pendants, click here.
To find out more about this kind of ivory, click here. (Opens in a new window.)
Walrus tusks provide the beautiful ivory found in Naulaq's carvings and pendants. The male and female walrus use their tusks for many things, such as maneuvering on the ice and over rocks, for fighting with other walrus, and for digging up feed from the ocean floor. The ivory used in Naulaq's work is harvested in the Spring off the coast of Cape Cruising Stern.
To see some of the pendants, click here.
To find out more about this kind of ivory, click here. (Opens in a new window.)
Teeth
Many of Naulaq's pendants are carved of teeth from walrus or other animals, such as Arctic Wolves, which are some of the largest wolves in the world, and consequently have some of the largest teeth.
To learn more about Arctic Wolves, click here. (Opens in a new window.)
Many of Naulaq's pendants are carved of teeth from walrus or other animals, such as Arctic Wolves, which are some of the largest wolves in the world, and consequently have some of the largest teeth.
To learn more about Arctic Wolves, click here. (Opens in a new window.)
Baleen
Baleen pegs and other inlay using baleen can be found in almost all of Naulaq's carvings and pendants, and some pendants are carved out of baleen as well. Baleen comes from Bowhead whales and is harvested in the Spring off the coast of Point Hope, Alaska. Baleen are the long black plates in the mouth of the whales used to filter their feed.
To find out more about baleen, click here. (Opens in a new window.)
Baleen pegs and other inlay using baleen can be found in almost all of Naulaq's carvings and pendants, and some pendants are carved out of baleen as well. Baleen comes from Bowhead whales and is harvested in the Spring off the coast of Point Hope, Alaska. Baleen are the long black plates in the mouth of the whales used to filter their feed.
To find out more about baleen, click here. (Opens in a new window.)
Ram Horns
A piece of mastodon tusk atop baleen and walrus tusk
A large walrus tusk in raw form atop various pieces of scrap ivory
Materials
© All images and text on this site are copyright 1997 - 2010 by James R. Jones
Site design © Laughing Cat by Frances Boero 2009 - 2010
Site design © Laughing Cat by Frances Boero 2009 - 2010
