Description:

Attributed to Noah Kudlu ᓄᐊ ᑲᓚ (b. 1912), Kuujjuarapik (Great Whale River)

SEATED MOTHER AND CHILD, CA. 1954

stone, ivory, pigment, unsigned

Estimate: $5,000—7,000
Important:
Many countries prohibit or restrict importation or exportation of property containing ivory, whale bone, sealskin, and/or products derived from other endangered or protected species, and require special licenses or permits in order to import or export such property. It is the responsibility of the buyer to ensure that the item is properly and lawfully exported / imported. Please do not hesitate to contact one of our specialists for further details.

    Provenance:
  • Private Collection, Ontario
  • Dimensions:
  • 9 x 6 x 5.5 in — 22.9 x 15.2 x 14 cm
  • Artist Name:
  • Attributed to Noah Kudlu ᓄᐊ ᑲᓚ (b. 1912)
  • Medium:
  • stone, ivory, pigment
  • Notes:
  • Very little is known about the artist Noah Kudlu outside of what can be learned from the handful of sculptures attributed to the artist. Born in 1912, Kudlu is recorded as having lived in the areas around Kuujjuarapik (Great Whale River), where fellow early artist Johnny Inukpuk was born in 1911. (1)

    An enigmatic and finely wrought portrait bust of a woman by the artist made circa 1954 and held in the collections of the Canadian Museum of History was chosen to be included in both the landmark 1971 publication Sculpture/Inuit, as well as in George Swinton’s definitive early reference, Sculpture of the Eskimo in 1972. Another work by the artist, an exceptionally fine walrus by Kudlu, dated to 1960, is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. (2)

    Several aspects of Seated Mother and Child show strong similarities with the 1954 portrait bust by Kudlu. The sculpture is confidently developed and the work of a skilled artist. Both sculptures are made from a coarse stone of variegated texture, much harder than the soft argillite for which Sanikiluaq (Belcher Islands) region sculptures are best known. Of particular note are the closeness in the quality and style of the ivory inlay in the two works, the facial structure of the heads, and upward cast of the figure’s faces.

    (1) Daniel Chartier and al. “Inukpuk, Johnny.” Inuit Literatures ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᓪᓚᒍᓯᖏᑦ Littératures inuites. 2018-2021. https://inuit.uqam.ca/en/person/inukpuk-johnny
    (2) The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Cat. No. 1970.45.29. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/309668

    Related Works:
    George Swinton, Sculpture of the Eskimo (McClelland & Stewart Ltd., 1972), 148, pl. 218.
    James Houston, George Swinton and William E. Taylor Jr., Sculpture/Inuit (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1971), 198.
  • Condition:
  • Overall very good condition. Some scuffing, minute imperfections. Please contact the specialist for further condition information.

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Restrictions exist regarding the import and export of species protected under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). This includes but is not limited to items made of or containing bone (whalebone etc.), ivory, tortoise shell, seal skin, rhinoceros horn and any other animal part and is strictly controlled or forbidden by most countries. Please review your country's laws before bidding on pieces made of or containing these restricted items. It is the sole responsibility of the buyer to inquire about and obtain the proper permits for artwork purchased that may contain restricted materials, if such permit can be obtained. Please contact the department for further assistance. For more information please visit www.cites.org

May 29, 2024 7:00 PM EDT
Toronto, ON, CA

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
CA$0 CA$249 CA$10
CA$250 CA$499 CA$25
CA$500 CA$999 CA$50
CA$1,000 CA$1,999 CA$100
CA$2,000 CA$4,999 CA$250
CA$5,000 CA$9,999 CA$500
CA$10,000 CA$19,999 CA$1,000
CA$20,000 CA$49,999 CA$2,000
CA$50,000 CA$99,999 CA$5,000
CA$100,000 CA$299,999 CA$10,000
CA$300,000 CA$999,999 CA$25,000
CA$1,000,000 CA$1,999,999 CA$50,000
CA$2,000,000 CA$2,999,999 CA$100,000
CA$3,000,000 CA$4,999,999 CA$200,000
CA$5,000,000 + CA$300,000