"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." Helen Keller The Eyak are the least populous Native American group in Alaska. They traditionally lived at the mouth of the Copper River Delta where they lived off the rich salmon runs and wildlife of the Delta. Their territory runs along the Gulf of Alaska from the Copper River Delta to Icy Bay. Oral tradition tells us that the Eyak moved from the interior of Alaska via the Copper River or over the Bering Glacier. In 1972, a number of rather interesting Eyak Talismans had been unearthed by a Southeast Alaskan Native American. All of the originals had a piece of shimmering baleen inlaid into a twilight colored section of Fossil Walrus Ivory that, itself, shimmered with irridescence. Such pieces were worn as Talismans, to be used when the Aurora Borealis was particularly low in the sky. Each piece was held tightly in the hand to protect the wearer against the powerful spirits of the Aurora. We took pictures of them hoping to someday find another piece of Fossil Ivory that resembled them. Each of our new Eyak Talismans is designed around just such a piece we recently cut. Our Eyak Talisman III is made with 2500 year old naturally-shaped Fossil Walrus Ivory with its own light-and-dark gray irridescence. It has a striking white line just inside its lower right hand border, and is naturally framed in black ivory bark, as were the originals. To represent the baleen inlay, we have inset a round piece of brilliant blue/green opal. A strikingly beautiful and interesting piece which will not only garner favorable comments whenever you wear it, but it will help to make you stronger in the face of the unknown. 1 3/8 inches high, 3/8 inch wide. T106-EYAK3/O $79.50 |
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
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! 1-301-229-4488. 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.
Have questions or special order needs? Just email us at studio@ancientivories.com or call us at 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.
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