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THB20th C. Inuit Soapstone Sculpture Owl, Joe Talirunili
Lot 121c
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$1,600 - $2,400
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About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Jun 29, 2023
Set Reminder
2023-06-29 10:00:00
2023-06-29 10:00:00
America/New_York
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Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Ethnographic and Fine Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-ethnographic-and-fine-art-13031
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View Full Catalog (339)
- Lot Description
Joe Talirunili (Inuit, 1893-1976). Owl. Soapstone sculpture, ca. 1960s to 1970s. Signed in English under left foot and in syllabics under right. A delightful soapstone sculpture of a horned owl by renowned Inuit printmaker and sculptor Joe Talirunili. The charming creature stands upright on thick legs with delineated talons on each foot. His heavily plumed wings form sharp angles from his elongated body, as though about to spread outward and take flight, as his head presents huge eyes and a petite beak beneath a pair of pointed horns. Joe Talirunili, resident of Povungnituk, was known for his rough yet evocative descriptions of boats full of figures, as well as for owls, like this example. This owl is characteristically quite primitive in execution, yet full of spirit, exhibiting a dignified silhouette and a powerful presence. Size: 2.9" W x 5.3" H (7.4 cm x 13.5 cm)
Born in either 1893, 1899, or 1906, Joe Talirunili was known for his depictions of the harshness of the northern climate and the survivalist lifestyle of a people dependent on a barren landscape, often crudely executed, as though emphasizing the artist's urgency and conviction for documenting his thoughts. The rugged aesthetic Talirunili favored for his sculptures set them apart from the majority of those being produced from Puvirnituq at the time, which were increasingly being recognized for their "idealized, dreamlike quality," smooth surfaces and fine details. His sculpture "The Migration" made Talirunili one of the most sought after Inuit artists, as it held the world record for a price paid for an Inuit artist at auction in 2012, a record that was only surpassed when Talirunili's "Migration Boat" (early to mid-1970s) sold for $408,000 in 2019. Both sculptures portray one of his childhood experiences, when families set sail in an umiak (large sealskin boat) to travel to better hunting grounds. This scene was repeatedly depicted in Joe's carvings, drawings and prints. Talirunili's work has been included in over 30 exhibitions and was featured on a 14-cent Canadian stamp in 1976.
When speaking of Joe Talirunili in "Canadian Inuit Print Artist/Printer Biographies," Sandra Barz states, "He left a legacy of sculpture, prints and drawings, which were unique in the way he crafted even the most mundane subject. His owls were horned 'Joe' owls, his human figures, animals and hunting scenes were instantly distinguishable, as were the haunting 'migration' boat scenes, whether rendered as drawings, prints or sculptures. Perhaps redundant as identification, but part of his enormous charm, was the inevitable 'JOE' (sometimes backwards) carved into his stones, almost as part of the image. His contributions to editioned print collections started with the initial release in 1962 and continued without a break through the next 10 collections for a total of some 70 stonecut prints. He cut his own stones and probably tried his hand at printing, too, on occasion."
Provenance: private Greenwood Village, Colorado, USA collection
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#179314Head, neck, tops of wings, and right foot have been professionally repaired with some light restoration over some break lines and others visible. Some small chips, nicks, and abrasions to surface as shown. Otherwise, excellent presentation with good preservation of detail. Signed in English under left foot and in syllabics under right.Condition
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