Sculpture

Contemporary Inuit sculpture produced for the art market began in the 1950's in response to a very successful sale, by the Canadian Handicraft Guild in Montreal in 1949, of pieces collected by James A. Houston on the east coast of Hudson Bay. The Inuit co-operatives developed by 1959 and a central marketing agency was established in 1965. Carving continues to be a major source of income in the Eastern Canadian Arctic, an area which has undergone major social and economic changes, especially since World War II. There has been a steady growth in permanent settlements during the last half of this century which has made large scale carving in stone feasible. Traditionally, carving materials were mainly bone, antler, and ivory, because of their light weight, strength, and durability. Heavier and more fragile stone was used primarily for lamps and cooking vessels. Although Inuit sculpture is often referred to as 'soapstone' sculpture, in fact, less than half of the stone used is soapstone (a high-grade talc or steatite). Other stones commonly used include serpentine, olivine, periodite, chrysolite, and others. In the early years of the industry it was possible to identify where a carving came from by the specific type of stone used, however, in recent years stone is traded on a wider, regional basis. Whale bone, antler, walrus tusk ivory, and a variety of other materials are also used by Inuit carvers. Themes in Inuit sculpture are based on personal experiences and beliefs, derive from oral traditions, mythology, as well as from narrative and figurative themes depicting arctic fauna and scenes of traditional Inuit life. Regional, community, and individual styles are also apparent.

Balshine family collection.

contemporary art

Antler standing figure (a) pegged onto an antler base (b) made from the wide, flat portion of an antler. Base is notched on two sides and curves inwardly on a long side and slightly out on a short side with a flat edge between. Figure has one long, mittened arm extended out to the side with a seal draped longitudinally over it. The other arm is in relief on side. The figure's head is ovoid with inset black circle in oval eyes, wide nose and wide, open mouth with five pegged teeth. There is a second figure emerging from the top of the first's head. This figure has similar features except for the mouth which has a tongue showing between its lips. Porous antler shows between the legs of the main figure at mitten at end of extended arm and in mouth.