Eskimo Soapstone Figure

Antique American Indian Art Verified independent store

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ca. 1980 5.625" H x 3.5" L x 2.875" W Hand Carved from Soapstone of a Man Throwing an Ivory Spear with Etched Fine Detail In Very Good Condition Eskimo soapstone figures (more accu rately called Inuit soapstone carvings) are beautiful hand-carved sculptures created by Inuit artists from Arctic regions of Canada (and sometimes Alaska or Greenland). These figures are a cornerstone of Inuit art, which gained widespread recognition in the mid-20th century (especially from the 1940s–1950s onward) when southern markets and cooperatives encouraged commercial production. Soapstone (steatite) is a soft, talc-based stone that's easy to carve and polish, often resulting in smooth, tactile pieces ranging from deep green or black to lighter mottled tones. Show more