Description:

A spirited and sculpturally powerful vision of Arctic shamanic play and endurance, this compact masterpiece by Kila from Taloyoak captures the exact instant a shaman springs into a jump rope rhythm. Carved in 1990 in dark green-black serpentine stone - often called soapstone in Inuit art - the figure compresses mass and movement into a single dynamic form. Rounded clenched hands anchor a pale hide or sinew strap that reads unequivocally as a jump rope, the band circling the wrists and sweeping across the torso with convincing tension. The head tilts upward, the mouth carved in a lively open expression, while crisp facets at the cheek and jaw catch light and shadow to animate the face. The artist resolves the composition on a vertically fluted base that reads as both parka hem and integral plinth, lifting the figure and reinforcing a vertical spring-like energy. From every viewing angle the work balances volume, rhythm, and narrative, a hallmark of Taloyoak carving at its best.

This is a fully documented example of Canadian Aboriginal Inuit art from Nunavut, certified by the Government of Canada. The included authenticity card lists Artist Kila, Community Taloyoak, title Shaman Rope Jumping, date 1990, and number 90148. The stone has a fine satin hand consistent with high quality serpentine, and the mixed media element - the pale strap - heightens the storytelling while adding a rare kinetic detail for the genre.

Dimensions 3 1/2 in x 2 1/2 in x 3 in tall.

The underside shows expected shelf wear and tool marks from carving, not visible when displayed. The strap is present and secure, with minor age softening at the tips, and there are the usual small surface rubs to the stone consistent with careful handling. No cracks, losses, or repairs observed.

Collectors of Inuit sculpture, Indigenous Canadian art, and Taloyoak carving will recognize the appeal here - a compact museum-grade work that unites form, motion, and myth in a single readable gesture. Shaman Rope Jumping by Kila is both a conversation piece and a scholarly object, ideal for a focused Inuit art collection or a broader modern sculpture context. Offered with its original Government of Canada certification card for immediate inclusion in a serious collection.
90148

  • Medium: Sculptures Inuit

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

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