A cribbage board and two pegs, carved from a walrus tusk with a polar bear, walrus head, and three seals carved in relief.

A cribbage board and two pegs, carved from a walrus tusk with a polar bear, walrus head, and three seals carved in relief. There is a compartment for pegs at the end. The base is engraved with a map of the coastline from St Michael Island at the bottom of Norton Sound to Cape Prince of Wales on the western tip of the Seward Peninsula.

The board is inscribed with the place names 'CAPE PRINCE OF WAELS [sic], YORK, TELLER, SALT LAKE, TISSYE RIVER, SINUK, CREPPLE RIVER, PENNY RIVER, NOME, NOME RIVER, PORT SAEFTY, SOLOMON, BLUFF, COLOVIN BAY, NORTON BAY, SHATOLIK CNALAKEE T, ST MICHAEL.' Iñupiat/Inupiat Inuit work. This style of carving was developed to meet demand created by the Gold Rush and is strongly influenced by whalers carving.

Object Details

ID: AAA0033
Collection: Decorative art
Type: Cribbage board
Display location: Display - Polar Worlds Gallery
Date made: After 1892
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. We regret that Museum enquiries have not been able to identify the copyright holder and would welcome any information that would help us update our records. Please contact the Picture Library.
Measurements: 58 x 580 x 77 mm
Parts: A cribbage board and two pegs, carved from a walrus tusk with a polar bear, walrus head, and three seals carved in relief.