Inuit Ulu Presentation Piece (Musk Ox Horn)

David · 4th March 2020, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

That is a huge example, David.

Biggest one I've ever seen; circular saws are a popular source for the blades.

Yeah, that's why i threw in the photo of me holding it. I was surprised when i went to pick it up because there were no size references in the photos i saw. That's a big chunk o' horn there.

Ian · 5th March 2020, 09:20 PM

Interesting piece David. Very nicely carved and finished piece of horn.
Ian

Battara · 6th March 2020, 04:09 AM

H

ly Crap!

That's huge! And the best example I've ever seen!

David · 6th March 2020, 08:53 PM

Thanks for the comments gentlemen. Yes, i was quite surprised when i went to the sellers house to pick it up. The photos (i found this on Facebook marketplace) had no scale in them so i could not tell the actual size. It is a presentation piece so i guess they decided to make it a bit oversized for the occasion. I love the carving of the ox horn. It is simple, but elegant. There is a conservation of execution. Just enough form carved in place to bring the figure to life and no more.
I am a bit obsessed now with trying to find out more about it, but since the name of the person it was presented to is not on the blade it's sort of a dead end. Many of the kid's names that have been inscribed are just first names, but there are a few last names as well, but i'm not sure there are enough clues to figure out how it was gifted to and why. I do know that there are a lot of teachers in Canada who go up to the arctic and teach for a few years for the experience and then return home. My best guess is that the recipient was one of those.

MitsuWa. · 15th March 2020, 04:47 PM

The handle is over sized for presentation but big blades for breaking down carcasses are used. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/18/9d...219174fd48.jpg

David · 16th March 2020, 12:00 AM

No doubt Mitsu, and thanks for the photo an ulu in use. Ulu can come in many sizes depending on the task they are set for and the handles are usually proportionately as well as actually smaller that the one presented here. I'm pretty sure i could successfully sharpen my ulu blade for use if i wanted to, but the handle on it would probably present problems for practice use.

kronckew · 16th March 2020, 08:25 AM

If you google 'antique herb chopper' you will get a bewildering array of very unusual designs, some even multi-bladed with two handles, and also a number of very ulu-like designs. I've seen Shona war axes made from herb choppers with a single central semi-circular blade 'tang' like the above. I would suspect that larger bladed ones like the OP's may have been repurposed from such a herb chopper. I also suspect many 'herb' choppers' were repurposed circular saw blades. recycling, old style.

see also http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24004

I have a modern ss 'alaskan' ulu of smaller proportions that makes an excellent pizza cutter - or herb chopper. It gets used a lot.

Some antique ones from google:

6th March 2020, 04:09 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,270	Hly Crap! That's huge! And the best example I've ever seen!

16th March 2020, 12:00 AM	#6
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	No doubt Mitsu, and thanks for the photo an ulu in use. Ulu can come in many sizes depending on the task they are set for and the handles are usually proportionately as well as actually smaller that the one presented here. I'm pretty sure i could successfully sharpen my ulu blade for use if i wanted to, but the handle on it would probably present problems for practice use. Last edited by David; 10th September 2020 at 03:11 AM.

16th March 2020, 08:25 AM	#7
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	If you google 'antique herb chopper' you will get a bewildering array of very unusual designs, some even multi-bladed with two handles, and also a number of very ulu-like designs. I've seen Shona war axes made from herb choppers with a single central semi-circular blade 'tang' like the above. I would suspect that larger bladed ones like the OP's may have been repurposed from such a herb chopper. I also suspect many 'herb' choppers' were repurposed circular saw blades. recycling, old style. see also http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24004 I have a modern ss 'alaskan' ulu of smaller proportions that makes an excellent pizza cutter - or herb chopper. It gets used a lot. Some antique ones from google: Attached Images

5th March 2020, 09:20 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Interesting piece David. Very nicely carved and finished piece of horn. Ian

6th March 2020, 08:53 PM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	Thanks for the comments gentlemen. Yes, i was quite surprised when i went to the sellers house to pick it up. The photos (i found this on Facebook marketplace) had no scale in them so i could not tell the actual size. It is a presentation piece so i guess they decided to make it a bit oversized for the occasion. I love the carving of the ox horn. It is simple, but elegant. There is a conservation of execution. Just enough form carved in place to bring the figure to life and no more. I am a bit obsessed now with trying to find out more about it, but since the name of the person it was presented to is not on the blade it's sort of a dead end. Many of the kid's names that have been inscribed are just first names, but there are a few last names as well, but i'm not sure there are enough clues to figure out how it was gifted to and why. I do know that there are a lot of teachers in Canada who go up to the arctic and teach for a few years for the experience and then return home. My best guess is that the recipient was one of those.

15th March 2020, 04:47 PM	#5
MitsuWa. Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 22	The handle is over sized for presentation but big blades for breaking down carcasses are used. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/18/9d...219174fd48.jpg