Lot 272
Native American / First Nations, Canada, Inuit, ca. 20th century CE. A striking and large soapstone or greenstone carving depicting a hybrid acrobatic figure in an extreme contortionist pose. The grotesque, anthropomorphic head gazes dramatically upward while the body balances on bent forearms, with rear legs arched vertically over the head. Zoomorphic features such as paw-like limbs and a long tail along the underside suggest this is a transformative spirit figure - possibly representing the fluid boundary between human and animal in Inuit cosmology. Size: 16" L x 10.5" W (40.6 cm x 26.7 cm)
Soapstone carving holds deep cultural and artistic significance among Indigenous communities in Canada, particularly Inuit and other Arctic peoples. These soft, workable stones have been used for generations to create both functional objects and expressive sculptures that reflect spiritual beliefs, everyday life, and close relationships with the land and animals. Carving traditions are passed down through families, and many contemporary Indigenous artists continue to work in these materials, blending ancestral knowledge with personal vision.
Provenance: private Studio City, California, USA collection
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#194149
- Condition: Repaired, Rear right foot and left front foot is reattached with visible break lines. Front limbs have stable fissures and striations, and may have been reattached. Large chip to nose. There is heavy pitting and abrasions to the rear legs and the underside at the base of and along the tail. Unsigned.
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