Native American, Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Inuit, ca. 1962 to 1980 CE. Signed C. Alan Johnson ("Ahtoon"). A fine collection of 5 hand-built ceramic figures by Alaskan artist C. Alan (Bud) Johnson (active/lived in Alaska, 1926-2013), with hand-painted details. The first figure is a standing boy who holds a wooden spear in one hand. Next is a standing boy named "Tollu" who holds a large fish with both hands. Third is a standing boy named "Danny" who wears a red baseball cap and a jacket with red and blue decorations. Last is a pair of elderly figures: "Rachel" holds a gathering of petite fish on a line in one hand, and "Matthew" presents with both hands in the pockets of his jacket. The underside of each figure is signed with C. Alan Johnson's name as well as a date, with some bearing the name of the figure. The "Ahtoon" figures were first made in 1958 and are highly collectible! Size of largest ("Matthew"): 3.25" W x 7.875" H (8.3 cm x 20 cm)
According to the Anchorage Daily News, "Alan was a talented sculptor and watercolorist and the designer of the much loved Alaska figurines. With his artist wife, he co-founded the C. Alan Johnson Co. in 1958. They produced artwork for 48 years, until 2006, when he retired at the age of 80 and they closed the business. He completed his last painting in 2010 which depicts the FV Thelma C, a historic Alaska salmon fishing boat." (Anchorage Daily News, March 26-April 1, 2013)
Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection
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#142494
Condition
All figures are intact and in great condition. Nice preservation to pigment and detailing throughout. Each figure has artist's name and date written underneath in black ink, some with the figure's name included.