| Collection | ABDUA University of Aberdeen, Human Culture Collection |
| Object Name | Uluaq |
| knife |
| ulu |
| 412 |
| Object Number | ABDUA:6270 |
| Other Number | E31+2 |
| Other Number Type | old number |
| Brief Description | Uluaq (knife), blade made from steel saw blade (some inscriptions detailing manufacturer information still visible. Handle in walrus bone (ivory?), shaft in copper socketed and wedged into handle and rivetted onto blade. |
| Dimensions | L: 125mm, W: 138mm |
| Materials | metal, iron, copper, bone |
| Condition | Good |
| Completeness | Complete |
| Maker | Inuit |
| Object Production Date | 1850-1925 |
| Place Key | North America, Canada, Arctic, Nunavut, Hudson Bay, Chesterfield Inlet |
| Association Type Place | findspot |
| Publication Note | Museum Committee Annual Report (1925-1926), p.1
Turner, G (1979) Indians of North America, p236 |
| Caption | "The Inuit of Arctic America used all the natural resources that were available to them, particularly animals, such as seal, caribou, walrus and whales, and they processed their skins, bones, tendons and even intestines into food, clothing, and equipment. They had a number of knives developed to help in this work, for scraping and cutting skins, processing tendons, cutting snow, and in preparing food. This is a 'ulu' or women's knife. It has the traditional lunate blade with curved cutting edge, which is mounted transversely on a handle. The blade is made of steel, taken from a European saw-blade, and it is inserted into a split copper shaft and rivetted. This is inserted into a handle of walrus tooth ivory, and a sliver of ivory has been put between the copper to act as a wedge to keep the handle in place. The curved blade was often used with a rocking motion. This ulu is a good example of a traditional tool, which, in this case, has been made larger than usual because newly available European materials, such as steel, can be used. It was probably made at the beginning of the 20th century."
Author: Feilden,Rosemary Date: 2000 Purpose: SCRAN
|
| Aquisition Source | Mitchell, W R |
| Aquisition Date | 01/01/1925 |