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THBSigned 20th C. Soapstone Arctic Weasel, Joe Talirunili
About Seller
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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| $300 | $50 |
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| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
LiveJun 15, 2023
Antiquities, ethnographic, native american and fine art from cultures encompassing the globe. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
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- Lot Description
Joe Talirunili (Inuit, 1893-1976). Otter. Soapstone sculpture, ca. 1960s to 1970s. Signed in English on underside of tail. A charming soapstone sculpture of a least weasel in a playful stance with an adorable raised head and a thick tail. His undulating body is supported by 4 short legs with delineated claws. He gently lifts the heels of his front paws as though about to jump forward as his round snout displays a slightly open mouth, incised nostrils, almond-shaped eyes, and a furrowed brow all beneath a pair of petite ears and a central crest - perhaps representing a tuft of fur. Inuit mythology describes weasels as wise and brave. One story describes a hero who would choose to transform into a least weasel when he had to accomplish a task demanding bravery. Size: 7.1" L x 2.8" W x 4.9" H (18 cm x 7.1 cm x 12.4 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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#178782Condition
Expected nicks, scratches, and abrasions to surface, but otherwise, intact and excellent. Signed in English on underside of tail with additional inscriptions of "300" and "ND" on underside of body - likely reference numbers for the artist.
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