Inuit Ulu Presentation Piece (Musk Ox Horn)

[MitsuWa.]

Kronckew, the photos you post show 19th century examples, but the ulu shown was made in the 21st century and not a repurposed antique. The original ulus were made of slate and Jade, not inspired by steel herb choppers.


QUOTE=kronckew]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.

[David]

Originally Posted by MitsuWa.

Kronckew, the photos you post show 19th century examples, but the ulu shown was made in the 21st century and not a repurposed antique. The original ulus were made of slate and Jade, not inspired by steel herb choppers.

Quite true about original Utu blades, but of course Inuit people have used iron and steel blades ever since European contact. Still, not inspired by herb cutters. Utu are of great cultural importance to the Inuit and are often an object of great craft. These blades performed all important functions and were indispensable to the survival of the tribe.
I suppose this is as good a place as any to start a visual library of examples of Utu. I would encourage others to add to this base.

[David]

A few more...

[David]

and some more...

[David]

Just a few more...

[David]

Just this last one i'm going to put up for now. This is not a functional blade, of course, but rather a work of Inuit art. I am posting this to show the importance of the Ulu within the culture, because here it has become the subject of Inuit art, transcending it value as a practical tool and elevating it to the level of cultural icon.

[MitsuWa.]

Inuit were working with iron in the form of the Cape York Meteors to make blades for centuries prior to European contact. Arctic explorers Peary and Rasmussen stole the meteors and brought them back to museums in their countries.

Originally Posted by David

Quite true about original Utu blades, but of course Inuit people have used iron and steel blades ever since European contact. Still, not inspired by herb cutters. Utu are of great cultural importance to the Inuit and are often an object of great craft. These blades performed all important functions and were indispensable to the survival of the tribe.
I suppose this is as good a place as any to start a visual library of examples of Utu. I would encourage others to add to this base.