Walrus ivory

Walrus ivory, also known as morse, comes from the long upper teeth, or tusks, of a walrus. These tusks grow throughout the walrus's life and can become very large—up to one metre long in some Pacific walruses. Because of their unique shape and appearance, walrus teeth are often carved and traded for their beauty.

The tip of a walrus tusk is covered with a layer of tooth enamel, but this wears away when the walrus is young. As the tusk grows, fine cracks develop inside, starting in a hard layer called cementum and moving into a softer part called dentine. These cracks can be seen along the whole length of the tusk. When you look at a cross-section of a walrus tusk, it usually has an oval shape with spaces along the edges.

Inside the tusk, there are two kinds of dentine. The primary dentine looks like classic ivory, while the secondary dentine has a marbled or oatmeal-like pattern. These special qualities make walrus ivory highly valued for carving and decoration.

Carving

Walrus-ivory carving and engraving has been a special kind of art for people living in the Arctic since very old times. Groups such as the Inuit, Inupiaq, and Yupik in Greenland and North America, as well as the Chukchi and Koryak in Russia, have made beautiful items from walrus ivory. Even today, the Chukchi and Bering Sea Yupik continue this tradition.

Long ago, during the Early Medieval period, walrus ivory was traded into Europe by Vikings when elephant ivory was hard to find. This trade helped people in Europe make beautiful things. Over time, the supply of walrus ivory changed, and later on, elephant ivory became more common again. The Norse people also made special items like the Lewis chessmen from walrus ivory.