Description:

Hand carved in 2024 by Malitu Akesuk of Cape Dorset Kinngait, Nunavut, Bear is a powerful contemporary Inuit stone sculpture executed in richly variegated serpentine - a classic Dorset material prized for its durability, tight grain, and dramatic veining. The artist renders the iconic Arctic animal in a compact, forward-striding pose that balances mass and motion - the shoulders and hips are full and weighty while the streamlined head tips subtly upward, conveying alert presence and quiet authority. The dark green-black matrix is animated with lighter olive and pewter marbling that travels across the back and flanks, and the surface has been brought to a deep, even polish that catches the light over every rounded contour. Minimal incising defines the mouth and eyes, allowing the stone’s natural patterning to carry the expression - a hallmark of refined Cape Dorset aesthetics.
Dimensions 4 x 2 x 3 inches tall approximately 10.2 x 5.1 x 7.6 cm make this a superb cabinet-scale work with the gravitas of a larger sculpture, ideal for connoisseur display and high-end interiors.
Included is the original Canadian Certified Authenticity tag filled out for Malitu Akesuk, Dorset community, Bear, 2024, with inventory number 71688 - an excellent provenance detail for collectors and institutions.
Condition is excellent with no repairs and only the minute natural inclusions inherent to serpentine visible upon close inspection. A quintessential subject from Cape Dorset - the cultural heart of modern Inuit art - this finely polished serpentine bear offers museum-quality presence in a highly collectible scale, combining impeccable material, confident sculptural form, and full certification - an outstanding opportunity for advanced Inuit art collectors seeking a fresh 2024 work by Malitu Akesuk with strong visual impact. 71688

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

Oakwood Auctions

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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