Inuit Tupilaks from East Greenland

Tupilaks have been made for a number of centuries by Inuit artists in Greenland. During the past century, many of the tupilaks were carved from stone, wood, and sperm whale ivory. In 1975 the CITES (the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species) international agreement between governments was adopted. In this agreement, the use of sperm whale ivory for carvings was banned.

During recent times, most of the tupilaks have been carved from caribou antler. Our tupilaks have been carved by Native Inuit artists in East Greenland. The older tupilaks have been carved from sperm whale ivory.

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