1928 Scrimshawed Caribou Bone Snow Knife chicago I think the pointy yellow

I think the pointy yellow shards emerging from the mouth of this strange creature do a pretty great job of giving form to a shrill cry

softened with gently curved edges

Found in New Hampshire

and have kept an eye out for similar pieces since--so immediately snatched up these

then white and green and black and reddish pink paint on top

1928 Scrimshawed Caribou Bone Snow Knife chicago I think the pointy yellowAt first I took this scrimshawed blade for a letter opener, but I have since learned that it is, I believe, much more interestingly an Inuit snow knife! From what I have read, some snow knives (as I believe is most likely the case with this smallish, decorated one) were used by young girls as stylists to draw pictures in the snow, with these being passed down from older to younger girls. Other snow knives were used as tools for cutting hard packed