Naguruk, Nuguruk and Nunuk Gallery
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 was 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.
From the Bill and Sue Hensler collection
Noonuk panel and bead necklace
From the Marshall collection
Nuguruk Eskimo seal hunt scrimshaw ivory pin and Nuguruk husky scrimshaw ivory earrings.
From the Suhr collection
Nunuk scrimshaw ivory cribbage board
From the Alice Cervini collection
Nunguruk ivory scrimshaw ivory cribbage board and unknown artist/designer ivory cutlery