Pure love. This fabulous creature was carved from walrus tusk, I believe by an indigenous carver from the Bering Sea area. I found another of a very similar animal form in a very similar manner described as a fox (image included in photos)--that one 19th century and described as carved by a shaman for a hunter to carry as as a sort of amulet or charm. It is the relative crudeness and immediacy of the carving that make it wonderful to me (and that face, and that very long body!) and indeed it feels as if it surely holds apotropaic powers! 

4" l x 1 1/16" t x 3/4" w and in good condition, with a surface crack in the tusk on one side (magnified in photos) and lots of irregularity native to the tusk.