Inuit carvings

Well, I've been recently assured I can indeed be a frequent poster... ... so here goes with today's estate sale finds: 3 Inuit stone carvings.

About the labels, I think the small number on the "Eskimo Art" sticker is a location, and not a date. (One below has a small '3'.) Is that correct?

The sticker on pic #2, the bird (ptarmigan?), is unlike any I've seen. Is it older?

And, last question, my interest is most drawn to the two walruses acrobatically swimming. In general, are more active sculptures more interesting and therefore more valuable?

Thanks as always!

 

ahhhhh broken flipper.........arghhh!

t apatok looks more alaskan

the Canadian label looks older but I don't recognize it from around here....and the artists name is underneath it.......( can ya flip it?? )

in general.....more work..is more valuable....but not in the higher end carvings....there the artist plays a huge monetary roll...

@Mark London

 

Here's that sticker flipped up:

 

The bird is by Marysa Kolola from Kimmirut (Lake Harbour) who was born in 1940. The stone would date the piece to the early to mid 1970's. The walrus is likely by Timothy Appatok from Kugluktuk (Coppermine) who was born in 1932. The walrus duo seems unsigned. As Komokwa points out, there is a major condition problem with this piece and the costs for a good restoration outweigh the value of the piece.

As to your question about detail, one could argue that it's not the amount of detail but rather the quality of detail. My opinion is obviously subjective but the bird is the "better" piece although devoid of much in the way of detail.

 

Thank you. I'll defer to your opinion, however subjective it may be. I was quite pleased to find these at an estate sale that otherwise had nothing of the sort. My collection is growing!