"You have gathered the many powers...You have clasped them now like necklaces unto your breast." Enheduanna
The Northern Athapascan Indians occupy an area of coniferous forests that lie in a belt just south of the true arctic region. This covers the drainage areas of the Yukon and Mackenzie Rivers. Winters are hard and long, and snowfall is much heavier than along the coast. Most of the year they spend in small bands, or nuclear family groups fishing (of primary importance, although they hunted moose, caribou and birds).
Their clothing is heavily decorated with embroidery, beads, etc., to increase their personal power. Personal power was the most vital element in religious life, and only those with the most personal power became Shamans, whose primary duties were to cure disease, bring game, predict the weather and foretell the future. The Shaman also helped maintain the balance between hunters and their animal spirit helpers.
Our Northern Athapaskan Personal Power Talisman is designed after a powerful Shaman's Talisman unearthed in the Yukon River Delta. Inside a frame of banded Fossil Walrus Ivory hang three small chunks of bright green "as found" malachite and two dark, graduated Fossil Mammoth beads. The Talisman hangs from a Sterling Silver chain. 1 3/4 inch high and 1 1/4 inch wide.
Be sure to see the earrings that match this Talisman. Just click the picture on the right.
T139/N/ATHAPASKAN/TAL$79.50
All items chosen with Registered Sperm Whale Ivory will come with a Registration Certificate containing the Department of Commerce registration number. [Sperm Whale Ivory Shipped only to addresses in Maryland]
The traditional fourteenth wedding anniverary gift is Ivory! We're here to help!
Each piece is handmade in our studio and signed. Marvin Cohen is widely recognized as one of America's leading scrimshanders, as well as a creative designer specializing in custom and semi-custom knifemaking, jewelry wearables and objects that
illustrate traditional Arctic region Native American tales and myths,
reinterpret ancient shamanistic images, and
translate the spiritual aspects of earth, water and sky into meaningful and personal contemporary wearables.
We stand ready to scrimshaw anything you would like on any of our pieces - animals, ship's and family portraits, landscapes, nautical scenes, hunting scenes, etc. We do many special order commission pieces from blazer buttons, knitting needles (knitters take note!), fountain pens, corkscrews, pistol grips, ball point pens and mechanical pencils, desk accessories, Fossil Ivory ship models, ship half hulls, Nantucket and Lightship Baskets, to custom whole Sperm Whale Teeth or whole Walrus Tusks. We also handcraft fossil ivory sailing/nautical trophies to order. We can personalize any piece with a scrimshawed name and initials at no extra charge. (Email us with any queries. Just email us at studio@ancientivories.com and let us know your special order needs!
Have a question? Just call us toll free at 1-866-468-0728.
The available colors of our high quality Fossilized Ivories are shown below. (Please allow for some color variation in these natural materials.) Our wonderful Ivories have been reclaimed from the ground after sharing the earth for up to 30 millennia! Even after all this time, Fossil Ivory remains warm and sensuous organic ivory; it is not petrified. It has developed its beautiful colors by taking up minerals from the earth and these colors are impossible to match in any contemporary ivories by modern processes. In time, the Fossil Ivories you wear or use will take on very personal hues from your contact. They will become a part of you.
Please Note: Since these colors are rare, some are not always available for every item. Please see each item for available color choices.
These are our scrimshaw Design Etchings. In addition to these designs, as an added option, you may send us a picture of your choice for a commission price quote.
Looking for thoughtful and interesting gifts? Know someone who absolutely loves his boat? Let us hand etch it's portrait, along with name and hull number - and the name of the captain - on one of our knives, pendants, money clips, or any of our other pieces!
Ancient Ivories Studios handcrafted items make sensational and warmly personalized gifts that will be treasured and enjoyed.
Have questions or special order needs? Just email us at studio@ancientivories.com or call us toll free at 1-866-468-0728.
Please bookmark our site. We add new designs and items periodically.
None of our Ivory is contemporary, and not a single animal has been killed, culled, or otherwise harmed to produce our Fossil Ivories. It is the only perfect, ecologically sound, humane way to own and wear warm, wonderful and enduring ivory.
We Use No Elephant Ivory, Nor Contemporary Ivories of Any Kind.
Every piece of Sperm Whale Ivory we sell, is registered with the Department of Commerce, and comes with a Department of Commerce registration number.[Our license does not allow us to ship Sperm Whale Ivory outside of Maryland.]
We have many more fine knives in our studio that are not on our website. Email us for availability of your favorite knife with Fossil Ivory handles! (We also replace scales on treasured old knives.)
LEARN ABOUT ANCIENT IVORIES STUDIOS AND OUR GALLERY CRAFT SHOW OUTLETS BY CLICKING ON THE LINK AT RIGHT
FOR A MAP OF OUR SITE, PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK AT RIGHT.
We offer the best prices on the web and outstanding value - check us out!
Have a question? Just call us toll free at 1-866-468-0728.
Most of our pieces are unique treasures created especially for the prospective wearer. Want to help us design your scrimshaw piece? Whether it's a fossil ivory Amulet or Talisman, Scrimshaw jewelry, personalized scrimshaw knives, Fossil Ivory Wedding or Commitment Band, Pendants, Brooches, scrimshaw sailor's Knife, Sterling Silver and scrimshaw Box, Scrimshaw Sperm Whale's Tooth, or Sterling Silver and Ivory scrimshaw Spoons and Tableware, just email us and we will work with you for a very personal piece you'll love to use or wear!
