Naguruk, Nuguruk and Nunuk

As per Dorothy Jean Ray in her book A Legacy of Arctic Art, page 148, " I saw names like "Nunuk" and "Nuguruk" inscribed on pieces at a time when most ivory art was anonymous; few Eskimos in Nome vicinity signed their work, and if they did, they used a binomial... I later learned that these objects were made in Seattle, usually mass-produced from a master engraved on ivory pieces, usually elephant ivory, with a tag "genuine ivory", which were then sent to Alaska, where customers mistakenly thought they were buying Eskimo-made objects of walrus ivory,"

We would still like to display these pieces to educate ivory sellers and buyers

Janurary 2002

From the Bill & Sue Hensler collection

Noonuk panel and bead necklace

Noonuk panel and bead necklace



March 2009

from the Marshall collection

Nuguruk Eskimo seal hunt scrimshaw ivory pin Nuguruk husky scrimshaw ivory earings

Nuguruk Eskimo seal hunt scrimshaw ivory pin and Nuguruk husky scrimshaw ivory earings



December 2008

from the Suhr collection

Nunuk scrimshaw ivory cribbage board

Nunuk scrimshaw ivory cribbage board



March 2006

from the Alice Cervini collection

Nunguruk ivory scrimshaw ivory cribbage board unknown artist/designer ivory cutlery

Nunguruk ivory scrimshaw ivory cribbage board and unknown artist/designer ivory cutlery