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🦴 Fossilized Walrus Ivory — Ancient Material, Timeless Craft

Fossilized walrus ivory is one of the most remarkable natural materials available to artists and makers. Buried for centuries beneath the earth and preserved through time, this material develops rich natural tones ranging from creamy whites and honey colors to deep browns and mineral staining that make every piece unique.

Highly valued for carving, inlay work, cabochons, and custom jewelry details, fossil walrus ivory offers both beauty and history in a single material. Its smooth texture and dense structure allow makers to create finely detailed work while still preserving the organic character that makes the material so sought after.

Artists are drawn to fossilized walrus ivory because no two pieces are alike. Every cut reveals natural variation shaped by age, environment, and time itself — giving finished work depth, warmth, and individuality.

Whether used in traditional craftsmanship or contemporary design, fossilized walrus ivory carries a sense of permanence and connection to the natural world that few materials can match.

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This is the kind of piece that stops collectors in their tracks. Bernard Homer Jr. (deceased) was the grandson of Leekya Deyouse — one of the most celebrated Zuni fe**sh carvers and silversmiths of all time — and that lineage shows in every detail of this extraordinary bear.

Carved from Colorado alabaster and measuring a substantial 6" x 2.75" x 2", this bear commands presence. The parrot feather bundle is the work of Mark Suazo Hinds (also deceased), a well-known Tesuque artist, adding another layer of artistic collaboration and cultural depth. His powerful pack is built from turquoise, lapis, spiny oyster, olivella shell, and abalone — and his eyes are inlaid turquoise.

In Zuni tradition, the bear is the guardian of the West — a symbol of strength, healing, and inner power. A piece like this, by an artist of Bernard Homer Jr.'s standing, is a rare find for any serious collector.

💲 $1,895.00

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