Description:

Native American, Canada or Alaska, Inuit, ca. 20th century CE. Indecipherable inscription on underside of base. A fascinating soapstone sculpture of a shamanic transformation featuring a pair of anthropomorphic faces protruding from a somewhat aquatic abstract form. Depictions of human figures intertwined with animals have permeated soapstone sculpture in various styles and media, captivating audiences for decades. A transformation can be described as the spiritual metamorphosis of human into animal, or between various animals. Transformation subjects in Inuit art often include shamans, bears, birds, sea animals and other figures and is a recurrent and powerful subject in Inuit spirituality. Transformations of humans into animals, or between one animal and another, fill traditional Inuit stories from the era of nomadic life on the land in the arctic. Size: 3.6" L x 1.9" W x 7.2" H (9.1 cm x 4.8 cm x 18.3 cm)

Provenance: private Alamo, California, USA collection, before 2000

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#180359

  • Condition: Indecipherable inscription on underside of base. Nicks and scratches to surface, as shown. Old collection label near base.

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October 19, 2023 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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