Walrus ivory model of a snow knife or panna. Part of a collection of ethnographical material made by Admiral Sir George Back (1796-1878). The item would have been made for sale to Europeans and Back met Inuit anxious to trade ivory carvings in Hudson Strait on 12 August 1819 and 5 August 1836 (there was a tradition of ivory carving established on Baffin Island). The originals of the three model snow knives in the group were used in different parts of the Arctic - mainly the central area. Snow knives of this shape were used by the Netsilik Inuit (Netsilingmiut) or by the Caribou Inuit (Igluligaarjuk). Miniatures were popular souvenirs as they were easy to transport.