Description:

A finely made mid century Inuit model kayak presenting a seated hunter figure, complete with working deck rig and traditional gear, hand made by a Canadian Inuk artist in the 1960s and accompanied by its original Government of Canada certification tag. The elongated hull is expertly constructed over a wood frame and tightly wrapped in translucent seal skin with visible hand stitching along the keel and seams. Rawhide or sinew lashings and leather thongs secure the deck fittings, including a leather coaming at the cockpit that hugs the hunter’s waist. The figure wears a plush fur parka with fur mitts and boots, the face carefully detailed and framed by a green hood. On deck are a carved wood double-bladed paddle and a classic hunting spear or harpoon fitted with a pale bone or antler point, with coiled line and lashings exactly where a northern hunter would keep them ready for use. The boat’s sheer line, upswept prow and stern, and the elegant taper give the model a convincing hydrodynamic profile, while the restrained, authentic materials speak to Arctic lifeways and masterful Indigenous craftsmanship.

This sculpture reads as both ethnographic teaching model and art object, its tactile surfaces and original patina reflecting decades of careful handling. The certificate identifies the work as hand made by a Canadian Inuk artist, artist unknown, with an April 1960 date and description Seal Skin Kayak, and it remains with the piece. Dimensions 20 inches long x 3 inches wide x 4.5 inches tall. Materials seal skin over a wood frame with leather, sinew or rawhide lashings, carved wood paddle, bone or antler harpoon point, and fur-clad figure. Condition very good for age with expected toning to the seal skin, minor scuffs, light handling wear to the figure’s fur, and small age-related ripples and spots to the skin and lashings that confirm originality.

A museum-quality example of Canadian Inuit material culture, this certified 1960s seal-skin kayak with hunter offers exceptional display presence, scholarly interest, and crossover appeal to collectors of Indigenous art, Arctic exploration, ethnographic models, and mid century Canadian sculpture. High end buyers will appreciate the authenticity of period materials, the integrity of construction, and the inclusion of the Government of Canada certification tag that anchors the piece historically and culturally.
SS01

  • Medium: Sculptures Inuit

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November 16, 2025 11:00 AM EST
Stouffville, ON, CA

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