Description:

Karoo Ashevak ᑲᕈ ᐊᓴᕙ (1940-1974), Taloyoak (Spence Bay)

SPIRIT, 1972

whalebone, antler, stone, signed in syllabics

Estimate: $30,000—50,000
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:
  • Galerie Lippel, Montreal, QC
    Private Collection, Montreal, QC
    Waddington's Auctioneers, Toronto, ON, 6 Dec 1995, lot 1056
    Private Collection, Ontario
    First Arts, Toronto, ON, 12 Jul 2020
    Private Collection, Toronto, ON
  • Dimensions:
  • 14.5 x 13 x 6 in — 36.8 x 33 x 15.2 cm
  • Artist Name:
  • Karoo Ashevak ᑲᕈ ᐊᓴᕙ (1940-1974)
  • Exhibited:
  • Lippel Gallery, Montreal, QC, 1974
  • Literature:
  • Leon Lippel, Inuit Sculpture 1974 (Montreal: Lippel Gallery Inc., 1974), 43.
    Pamela Harris, Karoo Ashevak Spirits (New York: American Indian Arts Center, 1973), unpaged, pl. 11.
  • Medium:
  • whalebone, antler, stone
  • Notes:
  • With their ingenuity and unique vision, Karoo’s sculptures continue to intrigue generation after generation of collectors with their mix of imagination and humour.

    Karoo’s preferred medium was whalebone due to the wonderfully abstract and curvilinear shapes of the bones in their unaltered state. These forms lent themselves to Karoo’s visions of the spirit world. Per Pamela Harris, “his approach to his work is unlike that of most Eskimo carvers, who believe that the form of the finished carving already exists within any piece of stone or bone and who consider that the carver's work is to free that form from the material that has kept it confined. Ashevak always begins his carvings with an idea in mind and then choses material of appropriate sizes and shapes. It is with the grotesque and wonderful pieces of whalebone that his genius has exploded.” (1)

    He worked the whalebone using simple tools: a carpenter's saw, files, and a drill. Karoo especially loved working with a drill, and would use it to hollow out nostrils in many of his most signature creations, as evidenced in both Karoo sculptures in this auction, lots 136 and 168.

    1972 was a pivotal year in Karoo’s short career, a year which included his first solo show in Toronto in March, as well as a great burst of creativity on the artistic front. This Spirit, in contrast with other sculptures, is serene, its face sweetly upturned to the sky with an enigmatic Mona Lisa-esque smile. It is an elegant form, pared down to its essence. Though Karoo was noted for his enjoyment of introducing “moving parts” in his work, this sculpture is concise and unto itself.

    Karoo’s sculptures, though they can often be variations on a theme or an idea he was working out, are always unique. Jean Blodgett writes that “Each sculpture is an integral unit representing a particular being, without reference to specific myths, stories or daily events…The images in Ashevak's sculpture originate in the general culture and tradition of the Eskimo, but the works are not so specific in reference as to be bound by this ethnic origin…The cultural heritage and consequent meaning strengthen and enrich the images but do not restrict them - the work can speak to those who have no knowledge of the Eskimo or his culture.” (2) Though distinctly Karoo, his figures are never repeated, making this Spirit a work not to be missed.

    (1) Pamela Harris, Karoo Ashevak Spirits (New York: American Indian Arts Center, 1973), unpaged.
    (2) Jean Blodgett, Karoo Ashevak: Winnipeg Art Gallery, March 30 to June 5, 1977 (Winnipeg: The Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1977), unpaged.
  • Condition:
  • Overall very good condition. Irregularities inherent in material. 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