Native Eskimo Artist, Alaska

Joseph D. Blatchford

Born August 22, 1940

Deceased February 4, 2009

in Anchorage, AK at the age of 68

Click to upsize and read his family's story below:

Joe picked up whatever work he could once his family moved to Anchorage .  At one point he worked for a roofing company, hot tarring roofs.  He was on a roof carrying two pails of hot tar, when the roof gave way and he fell.  The hot tar on the roof and in the buckets poured over him, literally melting his skin and melting his fingers together.  We also got information from family members that Joe was involved in another unfortunate house fire with additional burns at an earlier time along with his best friend Ralph.

After recovering, he designed a Dremel and other manual tools he could hold with his deformed hands to scrimshaw ivory and mammoth ivory to make artworks to sell.  He was a very talented artist and Glenn collected whatever he could find of Joe's work then, and over the years since Glenn left Alaska.

There are two versions of his demise, we have not verified which one is correct as yet.  One has him being hit as a pedestrian crossing the street in Seattle WA.  The 2nd version comes from the Alaska Cook Inlet funeral services in Anchorage that he passed away from cancer.

http://www.cookinletfuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=972997&fh_id=13390

I AM ACTIVELY SEEKING ANY AND ALL TYPES OF JOE BLATCHFORD'S ARTWORK, BE IT CARVINGS, SCRIMSHAW, SKETCHBOOKS, TUSKS, AND ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE LINKED DIRECTLY BACK TO JOE BLATCHFORD.

Contact me at: sharkman1020@gmail.com with photos and a phone number

After Glenn met Joe in Anchorage (summer of 1995) at the Native Eskimo co-op where he worked and displayed his items for sale, he commissioned a large walrus tusk to be scrimmed by Joe.  Then Glenn video taped the entire process of making this tusk a work of art.

and Joe holding two of them:

and Joe

 

#AK-BIRD-55

Eagle head (whale bone) on walrus ivory base, black ink eye, measures 2-1/4” long x 1/4” thick x 1-1/4” tall; signed “JB” for Joe Blatchford

$115  

#AK-FIG-19

Face carved into fossil walrus tooth, on whale baleen slice base.
Measures 2" long x 1-3/4" wide.  Tooth itself is 1-5/8" tall x 3/4" wide x 5/8" thick.  By Joe Blatchford.

#AK-FIG-50

Detailed scrimshaw work of full body of Eskimo laying on side with spear.  Signed Joe Blatchford.  This is Joe's mother he has scrimmed on this piece, which is a section of fossil walrus tusk at least 1000 years old.  It is also an artifact Fire Starter which is a real bonus.  Measures 6" long x 2-1/4" tall xy 1/2" thickest.  

#AK-MAM-1

These two pieces of mammoth tusk ivory came from Joe as a gift from him, from his workroom.

AK-MASK-1

Spirit mask with ivory face, fur ruff, 3 fossil ivory spear points & one spear end, all 4 baleen; 11" tall x 6-1/2" wide; by Joe Blatchford signed JB

SOLD to Joe's niece Charaleigh Blatchford in Unalakleet, Alaska

AK-MASK-3

Fossil whale bone face with ivory eyes and dot decorations, baleen pupils; 8" tall x 6-1/2" wide; by Joe Blatchford signed JB

AK-MASK-7

Fossil whale vertebrae disk SHAMAN MASK man/walrus, baleen whisker spots & ivory tooth; 7" long x 5-3/8" wide; by Joe Blatchford

Large walrus oosik, scrimmed with two simple (but colored) husky sled dog heads, with colored mountain background scene.  Signed "Joe Blatchford".  We believe this to be post-accident.

Measures 21-1/2" following the curvature (21" linear) 

1-3/4" diameter on largest end, x 2-1/4" across.  

Weight: 1 pound 8.6 oz.

#AK-OST-1

Glenn commissioned this ostrich egg to be scrimmed by Joe Blatchford when he was in Anchorage Alaska in 1995.  Signed, and is on a horn tip stand

AK-SHARK-2

This is a 2" modern great white shark tooth, top is black baked enamel, gold wired as a pendant.  Scrimshaw work by Joe Blatchford (dyslexic, he signed it "LB" instead of "JB". Glenn is the one that gave him the tooth and commissioned the work from him to do this so we know it is Joe's work.

   

#AK-WAL-50 

FULLY SCRIMMED Walrus TUSK by Joe Blatchford

Small walrus ivory tusk fully scrimmed on front by Joe Blatchford (personally known by Glenn from 1995). Detailed Eskimo and sled dog.  Measures 14-7/8" long x 2" wide x 1" thick.

     

#AK-WAL-51

FULLY SCRIMMED WALRUS TUSK by Joe Blatchford

Glenn video taped Joe as he scrimmed this tusk over a 4 day period.  By Joe Blatchford, Golovin, AK.  Due to the fact that he had two family members killed by a walrus (father) and seal (uncle), his family could not hunt these two animals as they believed the spirit of those relatives resided with that animal spirit.  The family had to leave the village because they were no longer an asset because of this.  Joe was forever known as the Walrus Man thereafter.  Joe's signature shaman face of half walrus half man is shown on the end, and a seal head on the other.

Themed with whales and whaling ships.

VALUE:  PRICELESS.  This one is part of Glenn.

     

#AK-WAL-52

FULLY SCRIMMED WALRUS TUSK by Joe Blatchford

Seal head on one end in fossil stellar sea cow bone, Joe's signature shaman face of half-walrus half-man on the other end with polar bear fur hair on half, baleen spacers.  Theme is a rookery of puffins, killer whales, cormorants, walruses, whaling ships, polar bear, and humpback whale.

Back has a tracing of the front half of a whale (as seen with tusk turned sideways), the line is also a type of serpent bird (sacred to the Eskimo people), and images of seal & fish.

Wells Fargo Bank in Anchorage Alaska bought 4 tusks from Joe in 1995 they now have in their showcase.  Joe is now deceased as of 2008, which also increases the value of his remaining body of work.  We are proud to have owned three of his tusks and other smaller items.

MEASURES 23" long x 3-3/8" widest end (tip 2" wide) x 2-1/4" thick.  Weight: 5 pounds 7 ounces.

This is from a large BULL WALRUS weighing 3,000 pounds.

The last 6-8" of the tusk tip is worn off or missing from the original full tusk as it was in the walrus skull, though you would never know it.

#AK-WAL-53  Joe's Biggest tusk yet.  It weighs about 6 pounds

DOUBLE signed by Joe Blatchford front & back; over 40 years old, pre-accident work.  Ends left natural.

30" long following the curvature, x 3" wide x 3" deep

Scrimmed front & back, of a flock of geese, Dall sheep, elk, moose fighting 2 wolves, 4 brown bears fishing.  On the reverse is a scrim of an Eskimo hunter standing on his boat looking for seal or bear.   A real masterpiece.

#AK-WAL-54

Smallest tusk, acquired from Mike, 11/2015

Measures 15-5/8" long curved measurement (15-1/4" linear)

1-5/8" tall x 1" wide across large end

Weight: 1 pound 7.5 oz.

Joe's father is shown on a walrus hunt.  His coat is colored, the walruses are colored, and the polar bear is colored.   Signed Joe Blatchford, "JB" and a seal image.  Banded at both ends; black end piece is baleen.

#AK-WAL-55

Acquired from Mike, 11/2015

19-1/2" long curved measurement (18-1/2" linear)

1-13/16" tall x 1" across large end

Weight: 1 pound 8.5 oz.

"Double jeopardy".  Scrimmed scene is a bird rookery, orca whales hunting seals, which are also being hunted by the polar bear (double jeopardy for the seal).  Detailed banding on both ends.  Black end is baleen.  Signed Joe Blatchford, "JB", and small seal carving, and "Golovin, AK".

#AK-WAL-56

Acquired from Mike, 11/2015

20" long curved measurement (18-1/2" linear)

2-1/2" tall x 1-5/8" wide across large end

Weight: 3 pounds 5.7 oz.

Scrimmed scene is a family cemetery image (top), 9 husky dog sled team, father Charlie is pictured.  Sun is colored yellow, and the huskies, blanket on sled, and Charlie's boots are colored.  Signed Joe Blatchford, "JB" and spotted seal image.  Banded on both ends.

#AK-WAL-57

Acquired from Mike, 22/2015

23-1/2" long curved measurement (23" linear)

2-1/16" tall x 1-3/8" wide across large end

3 pounds 8.9 oz.

Scene scrimmed is a 9 bird rookery, 4 orcas, and 3 colored walrus.  End is a cap of walrus ivory.  Signed Joe Blatchford, "JB", and "Golovin AK" and spotted seal image.

#AK-WAL-58

5/26/15  This beautifully COLORED scrimshaw walrus tusk is in private hands, we have permission to share the photos. James writes:

Update 11/2015 We have since purchased this tusk.  Here are the photos

Acquired from James & Barbara, 11/2015

DROP DEAD gorgeous piece.  One of Joe's finest.  Slice has been removed to facilitate a flatter surface for scrimming.  Deep curvature to tusk.  Peg leg hole in back. (back photo shows peg taped to the tusk for display later)

26-3/4" long curved measurement (24-3/8" linear)

3" tall x 2-1/4" wide across large end

4 pounds 10.8 oz.

Mother and sister and father portrayed on the annual caribou hunt.  Seal in background, family tent with heat (chimney).  Trusty husky dog, ancient design of spear for seal hunt and modern rifle.  We know this was carved early in Joe's career because his father was still able to seal hunt (meaning his uncle and brother had not died yet), while they were still in Golovin.  Ten caribou.  85% of the tusk is colored.  Premier piece.  Black end is baleen.

#AK-WAL-59

This is an old and wonderful tusk, just acquired 12/16/15.  It came from a flea market in Berlin New Jersey.  

Theme on the tusk are detailed scenes of father, and mother with child in back of parka, large village scene with kayaks up on stilts, skins drying on racks, numerous houses, walrus, mountain scenes, pair of whale ribs etc.

Weight: 4 pounds

Measures: 25-1/2" long, 3" across base, x 1-1/2" across tip

#AK-WAL-60

Base added is a woolly mammoth back bone vertebra from Siberia, Russia, 10,000 years old.  Measures 12-1/2" long x 6" wide x 2-1/2" tall.  Full tusk with brass rods in the base measures 8" tall.  Spectacular.

This LARGE and detailed tusk came to us from a pawn shop in Georgia.  Origination was Anchorage, Alaska.  The owner acquired this tusk some 40 years ago when he was stationed in Alaska.  Currently we are working with the family to track down more history on this piece.  It came without the base.  It appears that the wood cap on the end had small items glued to it, which are not there.

Theme of the tusk is Family.  From Left to Right: trapper's cabin, Eskimo style with husky sled dogs, with a bear hide drying on rack.  The next 4 scenes are all of family members (yet to be identified).  The far right figure is Joe's father.  2nd from right is: Female with child is Joe's mother and oldest sister.  3rd from right: Eskimo spearing fish is possibly Joe himself.  4th from right: Elderly Eskimo lady is more than likely Joe's grandmother.

Measures 28-5/8" long.  Widest part of tusk and the end are 3-1/8" tall.

Weight: 6 pounds 3.8 ounces

#AK-WAL-61

Baby walrus tusk measures 

11-1/8" long x 1-1/4" wide x 1" deep.  No cap.  Subject:  Polar bear, Hunter in gear laying down, spear at his side, and sled dog nearby.

TUSK 1

Roy allowed us to photograph the two Joe Blatchford signed tusks he has in his possession in Anchorage Alaska, November 2015.

Tusk 1

Tusk 2

Weight:  Approximately 10 pounds; tusks are 21" long.

#AK-SHIP-1