Ulaanbaatar
Unveiling the Marvel of Mongolia’s Bone Carving Heritage
Art & Culture
Ulaanbaatar, November 24, 2025 /MONTSAME/. A special exhibition titled “The Exquisite Heritage of Bone Carving”, opened as part of the nationwide Cultural Creative Month campaign under the theme “Mongolian Pride,” initiated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Youth and the Culture and Arts Authority, is currently on display at the National Museum of Mongolia.
The exhibition aims to
showcase and promote the long-standing tradition of bone carving in
Mongolia from ancient times to the present, featuring works crafted from animal
bones and ivory, including intricate miniature carvings and pieces created by
shaping and carving full tusks without altering their natural form.
With their long-standing
pastoral way of life, Mongolians developed the craft of creating bone implements
and decorative items using the natural qualities of animal bones. Over time,
this practice evolved into a refined artistic tradition, forming a remarkable
cultural heritage of bone carving.
According to B. Buyan-Orshikh, Registrar and Information Officer at the National Museum of Mongolia, the museum’s collection of carved bone artifacts consists of over 140 exhibits from 120 categories, including archaeological finds, ritual and everyday objects, and artistic works dating from the 18th to 20th centuries. He added, “Our museum is presenting, for the first time, a selection of rare and valuable pieces from its bone-carving collection. These include artifacts discovered from ancient settlements in Mongolia and bone items unearthed from burial sites dating back to the Hunnu period. Also featured are various bone ornaments and objects connected to Mongolian traditions of adornment and games.”
Mongolian bone carving is
distinguished by its strong reflection of regional characteristics, traditional
culture, and customs. The motifs drawn from pastoral life and the natural
environment give the artworks a distinct identity, setting them apart from
similar traditions in other parts of the world.
The motifs drawn from pastoral life and the natural
environment give these artworks a distinct identity, setting them apart from
similar traditions elsewhere in the world.
The exhibition also features
works by Honored Artist of the Mongolian People’s Republic and
master of decorative arts Sengee Samdan, his son Bazar Sengee, People’s Artist and Honored Artist of the Mongolian
People’s Republic Chuvaamed Legshid, as well as artisans L. Dorj, D. Gund, and Ts. Minjuur of the “Artisans’
Artel,” founded in 1952.
The exhibition will run until November 30, 2025.
