#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA.THIS ISTAIMYR. Bone carvers in Chukotka made the world’s first stamp of walrus tusk, measuring 40 by 50 millimeters and only 2 millimeters thick.
According to the experts of the historical and cultural project Post Adventure, the vignette stamp depicts one of the most beloved heroes in the North legends and the Raven spirit embodiment – Kootkh, as well as the inscription ‘walrus tusk stamp’.
The stamp has its own personal number and a unique denomination – 1 walrus tusk, as well as the year of issue – 2023.
The author of the unique stamp Valery Sushkov is a researcher-traveler, postal historian, head of the POSTVENTURE & Postal Adventure project, the International Philatourism Society head.
The artist of the stamp made from walrus tusk is Stepan Irgutegin, the Uelen bone-carving workshop’s master from the village of Uelen, Chukotka autonomous district.
The world’s first walrus tusk stamp was presented and canceled in March at the exhibition-fair of folk crafts Ladya: Spring Fantasy – 2023 at the Chukotka booth. Further plans include the creation of a line of walrus tusk vignettes with artistic illustrations of Chukchi epics and legends.
Earlier, Taimyr bone carvers showed their art at the First All-Russian Festival, a Nganasan bone carver created graffiti panels in the village of Ust-Avam, and the Norilsk College of Arts graduate embodied an ancient legend about the Taimyr land origin in bone carving.
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Text: Anzhelika Stepanova, Photo: Alexander Zheleznyak (Norilsk Development Agency) and the Postal Adventure project
