A powerful and compact original Inuit stone sculpture by Joe Poodlat - Taloyoak carver celebrated for dynamic wildlife groupings - titled Walrus and Seal and carved in 1994. Hand cut from a dense dark grey to black serpentine stone with lighter crystalline veining, the work presents a vigorous two-figure tableau in the round - a walrus and a seal entwined in motion - modeled with bold volumes, sharply faceted contours, and a crisp shelflike ridge that animates the composition and reads as both surf and separation. The drilled circular eyes with pale infill punctuate the heads and heighten expression, while chisel textures left along the crest provide tactile contrast to the smoothly worked body planes. The sculpture is fully three dimensional and resolves cleanly from every viewing angle, with confident toolwork that is unmistakably Taloyoak. Underside with artist notation - included is the original Government of Canada certification tag identifying the artist as Joe Poodlat, community Taloyoak, date 1994, and description Walrus and Seal, providing ironclad authenticity for collectors and institutions.
Dimensions 5 1/2 inches long x 4 inches deep x 4 inches tall - approximately 14 x 10 x 10 cm.
Condition presents beautifully with only minor edge rubs and small handling marks consistent with age and display.
This is a superb - finely balanced - museum quality example of 1990s Inuit art from Taloyoak in serpentine stone, ideal for high end collections seeking an expressive wildlife subject with excellent provenance and certification.
90041