Need help IDing an Elk Bone artifact - possible "cribbage" game

bigrush828 · Aug 30, 2010

Need help ID'ing an Elk Bone artifact - possible "cribbage" game

I purchased this Elk Bone artifact from an antiques dealer I have been dealing with for a while now. He has had it for quite soem time, so I got a decent deal.

He told me it was made of Elk Bone and was a "cribbage" game the Indians, or possibly Eskimos, made to trade with Whalers.

It has some nice carving with what appears to be Walrus Tusk inlays and end-caps.

Can anyone tell me more about this piece? Age? Use?

Thanks in advance!

joshuaream · Aug 30, 2010

Re: Need help ID'ing an Elk Bone artifact - possible "cribbage" game

Yep, it does look like an antler cribbage board. If it's an older piece, you might also consider that it could be Caribou antler and Inuit (Eskimo) in origin (the ivory point that way.)

bigrush828 · Aug 31, 2010

Re: Need help ID'ing an Elk Bone artifact - possible "cribbage" game

joshuaream said:
Yep, it does look like an antler cribbage board. If it's an older piece, you might also consider that it could be Caribou antler and Inuit (Eskimo) in origin (the ivory point that way.)

Thanks for the reply, Josh! Do you know where I can get this authenticated? I have had a tough time finding Inuit artifact authenticators. Thanks!