ulu (knife)

unrecorded Kalaallit (Greenland Inuit) artist, artist

ulu (knife), 1800s

Where object was made: Greenland

Material/technique: carving; bone; stone

Dimensions:
Object Length/Width (Length x Width): 13.2 x 8.7 cm
Object Length/Width (Length x Width): 3 7/16 x 5 3/16 in

Credit line: Gift of Lewis Lindsay Dyche

Accession number: 2007.0601

Not on display

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Exhibition Label:
"Climate Change at the Poles," Jan-2009, Kate Meyer, Jennifer Talbott, and Angela Watts
The ulu, often called a woman’s knife, is one of the most important items in an Inuit household. Ulus are used for preparing skins, cooking, sewing, and many other tasks. Lewis Dyche commented in his diary about the skill with which the Inuit women used their “half moon knives.” Early ulu blades were often made from stone, but as trade increased, metal blades with wooden handles replaced the older materials. The shape and size of the blade can vary according to the task being performed or personal preference.