Native American, Northwestern United States, Alaska, Inuit, ca. 1500 to 1900 CE. A killer find! A fascinating ceremonial knife, harpoon point, or axe head, skillfully carved from fossilized walrus tusk. The hefty weapon displays an excurvate blade and convex faces that taper near the edges. A thick, horizontal groove near the base creates petite notches and a straight, expanding stem that ends in a flat base. The tool is fabulously fossilized with creamy streaks of white and brown coursing across the incredibly smooth body. "CALIFORNIA" is inscribed on the stem, indicating that this piece may have been traded with other indigenous people and then subsequently found in California. Size (blade): 7.7" L x 2.4" W (19.6 cm x 6.1 cm); (case): 8.3" W x 12.3" H (21.1 cm x 31.2 cm)

The walrus is one of the most iconic Arctic animals, instantly recognizable with prominent tusks, whiskers, and bulky, blubber-filled bodies. This example is from Odobenus rosmarus divergens, the Pacific walrus, who can grow to more than 2000 kg (4400 lbs.). They live in the shallow waters of continental shelves and are highly social animals, often found bellowing and snorting at one another. Part of their social standing is determined by the size of their tusks, and this fellow whose tusks are preserved here would have been a prominent member of his group. Walruses also use their tusks to haul themselves along ice or rock. Males sometimes use their tusks for fighting and have been known to stab each other with them, especially in competition for mates.

This piece was previously owned by the American serial killer and art collector Robert Berdella (1949 to 1992), also known as "The Kansas City Butcher," "The Collector," and the owner of Bob's Bazaar Bizarre. After he was arrested in April 1988, an auction of Berdella's collection was held in Kansas City in November of that same year, during which nearly every lot was purchased by Del Dunmire, a local bank-robber turned millionaire entrepreneur.

This is an ESA antique exempt piece of ivory and cannot be sold internationally or to anyone residing in the states of California, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. We guarantee that the piece is over 100 years old.

Provenance: private Brevard, North Carolina, USA collection; ex-Robert Berdella, Kansas City, Missouri, USA, sold in November, 1988

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping..

#171099

Petite chip to tip and indentation with minor loss on 1 side. Some nicks to peripheries. Otherwise, excellent with nice patina. Set in modern Riker case. Stem inscribed with "3 / CALIFORNIA."