Inuit Artwork
 

I recall that Dean (Beygon) is a fan of Inuit artwork. My Mom and Dad were born on Vancouver Island, BC. I'm a US anchor baby born in New Jersey. My Mom had a really keen eye for Inuit artwork and collected these beauties back in the 1950's. When she passed about 30 years ago, I got about 1/3 of the collection, my brother and sister have the rest of the collection. I think she picked them up for next to nothing, in today's $. I had them appraised by a Canadian museum a few years ago, and the Canadian Guild of Crafts (Guilde canadienne des métiers d'art) did a full court press on getting me to donate them.



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1459107713.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1459107739.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1459107771.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1459107793.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1459107831.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1459107862.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1459107915.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1459107965.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1459108004.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1459108038.jpg

Nice collection.
Do you know anything about the kayak? It looks like a diorama size. Why would an Inuit make a model size boat? Toy?

It was actually made for Queen Elizabeth's husband ( Philip) but the PM of Canada decided it was to crude to present to him. My Mom picked it up for something like $50 in 1952

Fantastic.

Loan it. Don't donate it.

Wow! Those are some fantastic pieces. Thank you for sharing.
I agree with the "loan it" sentiment.

I guess to sell in Anchorage back then at the annual Fur Rendezvous.

I'm a fan/collector of native art as well. Aside from having a fabulous collection of native art, the Museum of Anthropology at UBC has a department that restores/maintains artifacts like yours. They can also provide valuations. As mentioned, loan rather than donate is the better course. Many pieces on display are on loan from private collectors/owners such as yourself.

The Inuit were also ace builders of tool cabinents, such as the one you scored last week- you might want to check the back for provenance! :D

I would think for Philip, they would commission two real kayaks at least. Send them back and use them on one of his ponds or something. That is a fascinating story.

Cool stuff. Just make sure if you loan it, that it doesn't fall into some kind of crazy legal argument regarding ownership of Inuit art.

I went to Nome, Alaska for work and got a tour of their amazing (tax payer funded) hospital facility there that could double as an Inuit art museum. They had some really cool stuff there.

I love Inuit art, especially the sculpture. A couple of my favorite pieces include this bird of prey, especially with the color of the stone:

https://gromitspapa.smugmug.com/Othe.../i-FVRQFkw.jpg


This is "Dancing Bear." He will stand on either foot, which is cool. This photo used him in a depth of field experiment:

https://gromitspapa.smugmug.com/Phot...J/0/O/bear.jpg


Images of the North in SF is a candy store...

Images of the North :: Inuit Art Gallery

Went to the candy store today and some "Loon" and "Defensive Bird" followed me home. Defensive Bird's head is turned to the right and cocked to the side, which doesn't really show at this angle. Looks really cool:

https://gromitspapa.smugmug.com/Phot...on_1024-XL.jpg

https://gromitspapa.smugmug.com/Phot...0Bird_1024.jpg


I have this family of owls on layaway. They will look killer on the fireplace hearth staring...

https://gromitspapa.smugmug.com/Phot...ls_1024-XL.jpg

Awesome!!! I have two pieces of Inuit carving, both by Toonoo Sharky.

Cool, thanks for finding this thread.

Nice stuff Hugh, my trip to the museum at the university in Vancouver is what got me started in sculpture. I could have stayed there days. I had already bought some things when I worked in Alaska in 81 but just because I liked them, didn't even think about the art involved until I think 2011. I really like your masks. I will try to take some pictures of things tomorrow but they won't be the same as yours. I have one guy in a small boat Narwhale hunting that was made mid 70s, that's the oldest I have.

emails into my sister and brother for photos of the rest of the family collection. They have some pretty awesome pieces.

Ha! Defensive Bird was done by Toonoo Sharky! I suspect you knew that.

http://www.imagesnorth.com/Exhibitions/2016_New%20Acquisitions/ImageViews/htmls/NA16_10.html

Yeah I wouldn't mind seeing more. Really neat.

I love Inuit art... or any art for that matter...

Kicking myself for not buying more Navajo stuff when I did a tour of Utah, Colorado, Arizona a few decades ago... artist would set up booths along the highways.

Great collection you have there, thanks for sharing!

My brother emailed me these, and I can't figure out how to not make them come out sideways.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1462751563.jpg