Fine Alex Patsauq 1917 Signed Serial Number Inuit Eskimo Soapstone Kayak Carving

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Royal house antiques royal house antiques is delighted to offer for sale this exquisite original inuit soapstone carving of an … Read more Royal house antiques royal house antiques is delighted to offer for sale this exquisite original inuit soapstone carving of an inuit in a kayak with seals by alex patsauq born 1917 with the period name and serial number to the base the kayak, e9-723, inscribed alex, is alex patsauq 1917, settlement of resolute bay (qausuittuq). Identifying inuit carvers is not an exact science, resolute bay is outside of the e9 hudson bay region and i am unable to explain why his settlement is e9 and not another regional identifier possibly e4 the first number and letter describe the area where the artist lives. E is for eastern canada for example, which was divided into 9 regions and e9 is the eastern side of hudson bay the next four numbers (and this does vary on carvings, sometimes there are 3 & 4 digits, i have seen carvings with 6 digits) these numbers are called disc numbers. They are a personal number allocated to an indigenous person from the 1940’s through to the 1970. Fibre discs were worn around the neck, hence they were called disc numbers. In 1971 a project surname was allocated first and last to inuit people replacing disc numbers. The numbers which follow the region will place an individual in a settlement along the east coast of hudson bay the condition is for this very patinated the inuit comes out of the boat and he has been dropped and has a loss to one side of his head, the kayak has various nibbles, losses and chips, nothing you wouldn't expect from a piece this old dimensions height:- 10.5cm width:- 39cm depth:- 6.5cm please note all measurements are taken at the widest point, if you would like any additional or specific measurements please ask any questions please feel free to ask before you bid condition please view the very detailed pictures as they form part of the around condition please note vintage period and original items such as leather seating will always have natural patina in the form of cracking creasing and wear, we recommend regular waxing to ensure no moisture is lost, also hand dyed leather is not recommended to sit in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time as it will dry out and fade. See less