Description:

A charismatic, fully authenticated work by Taloyoak master carver Gideon Qauqjuaq, this 1995 sculpture titled Happy Inuk is carved in a dense, dark grey-black soapstone and presented on a rugged natural stone base with a metal stanchion that creates a refined floating effect. From the frontal view, the composition reads as a modernist Inuk visage - circular light-infilled eyes, twin drilled nostrils, and a gently smiling mouth built up in confident low relief - while the oblique and profile photographs reveal the sharply faceted planes and crisp chisel work that Qauqjuaq uses to animate the cheeks, bridge of the nose, and brow. The rear and side images confirm the stone’s tight grain and silky matte polish contrasted with untouched quarry surfaces, underscoring the artist’s deliberate play between tool-finished and raw textures. The base photographs show a multi-hued, striated stone foot that is intentionally left natural to echo Arctic geology and to balance the head-like form above. A close detail image confirms the expressive facial carving and subtle polishing that catches light across the lips and nose, and the final image shows the original Government of Canada authenticity tag completed in the artist’s name, community, year, title, and inventory number - “Gideon Qauqjuaq, Taloyoak, 1995, Happy Inuk, 90059” - which accompanies the lot.
Dimensions 6 x 3 1/3 x 6 1/3 inches tall.
This is an exceptional, display-ready example of late 20th century Inuit art from Taloyoak, Nunavut, appealing to collectors of Indigenous Canadian art, Inuit soapstone carvings, and modernist figural sculpture. The work presents beautifully from all angles, with natural tool and handling nuances consistent with age and the artist’s method. A rare opportunity to acquire a joyful, museum-quality Taloyoak carving by Gideon Qauqjuaq - complete with its original Canadian government certification tag - ideal for serious collectors and for high-end interior display, gallery exhibition, or institutional acquisition.
90059

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April 5, 2026 11:00 AM EDT
Stouffville, ON, CA

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