Inuit Carvings

Unmarked Inuit figure. Fishing?
Another one off ebay that arrived broken
Carved steatite

Green serpentine seal. Unsigned. Early label, 1960s or 70s?

An Inuit group discussing the different types of stone used for the carvings said the green serpentine soapstone was used for some of the earliest carvings because it was softer. However, that comes with the caveat that this stone is still being used, and stone type is often regional and depends on what is available locally.

There is an apple green soapstone quarry at Markham Bay near Kimmirut.










 

Timothy Nayoumealook
Settlement: Port Harrison / Inukjuak
(1943) — E9-1573

10cm high x 9.5cm wide x 4.5cm wide

I think the figure is drumming & dancing

Carved by Joshua Paujungi Talirunili
Settlement: Povungnituk / Puvirnituq
(1929) — E9-820
21cm high x 10cm wide x 9cm deep
Carved steatite

I love the seal! I have a real soft spot for animal and bird carvings.

I’d been watching this listing on eBay for awhile but the seller was in Germany so I wasn’t confident about the packaging, but the seller said they’d pack it well and it arrived safely

By Mathewsie Amidlak
Settlement: Port Harrison / Inukjuak
(1934) — E9-1548
Dated 1977
20cm high x 10cm wide x 9cm deep
Carved serpentine

Leopard seal, signed Paul…
15cm long x 6cm deep x 10cm high
Carved steatite

Seal, E9-361
I think it’s by Charlie Tooktoo
Settlement: Great Whale River / Kuujjuaraapik
(1926)
Carved argillite

Otter or Weasel, signed Timothy - possibly Timothy Nayoumealook  
Carved steatite

They're lovely - although the otter looks decidedly grumpy!

Very true

One of the best pieces in my collection
By Minnie Palliser from Inukjuak

Another nice piece. By Sakaraiase from Akulivik Nunavik
Carved steatite

Another by Minnie Palliser (Pallisser)
Carved steatite

Signed Simioni

By Nunga Weetalutuk from Inukjuaq



 

Pond Inlet Inuit carving, signed S. Pewatualuk? 1987
This is what I was expecting to turn up...
But this is what actually turned up...
Box was little thicker than cardboard

Oh no! I hate it when something gets broken through careless packing like that. How disappointing - and such a waste of a lovely hand-crafted item.

I usually ask the sellers to pack well because soapstone is so soft and easily damaged, but they don’t always listen

Pair of leopard seals signed Josie Pappy, by Josie Pamiutu Papialuk in Puvirnituq (deceased)

Inuit scraping a hide.
By Pauloosie Weetaluktuk
Carved serpentine

via a relative:

Late Qautsiaq Pauloosie Weetaltuktuk. Inukjuak Que. Titled: 'In a wind shelter'.

Walrus with wooden tusks. Possibly signed E8.231 which is the carving number for Senak Unatweenuk. Settlement: George River / Kangiqsualujjuaq

Otter catching a fish, signed Thomassiapik? E9.??? carving number
Maybe Thomassiapik Sivuarapik
Settlement: Povungnituk / Puvirnituq
(1941) — E9-1462
Carved serpentine

Inuit with fish. Signed Quinangnaq from Baker Lake. Or Timothy Quananack from Puvirnituq

Possibly by Samson Quinangnaq, who featured in the documentary, Amarok’s Song (history of the people of Kivalliq), by the filmmaker Ole Gjerstad

Samson Quinangnaq was of the Okusuqsalikmiut, the Soapstone People, who lived along the Back River in the so-called Barrenlands west of the Hudson’s Bay. When repeated famines struck in the 1950’s, Samson and his family were moved from their traditional lands into the nascent settlement of Baker Lake, and their lives changed forever.

Hunter catching a walrus. Signed Silas or Silasie Tukai or Silassie Tuki, 1981, Inukjuak / Port Harrisson