Featured Inuit Stone Figurine Identifications - Large Polar Bear

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can help me with these Inuit stone carvings. Some are signed. I can't find any info on the artist though, and I don't know what kind of stone they are made of. I would be interested in any info anyone might have.

The first here is a polar bear on a stone slab marked W. Doolan Armstrong, BC Canada, August 1986. It measures about 10 inches long and 5 inches high. It is not damaged, the stone just has natural groves where it looks cracked. Anyone know the stone?








The second is a mask/face carving, not sure of the stone here either. It looks almost glazed with something overtop. Not sure if it is an original artist made carving? This is about 5 inches high.





Third is a hunter in a kayak with what might be seals?






This one is unsigned, again don't know if this is tourist or original art? It is about 9 inches long.

Last is an artist signed face. It is about 4 inches high. Looks to read Shawn and some number codes. Don't know the type of stone here either.






Very last is damaged and repaired in two spots. Stands at about 5 inches high. Unsigned.




I know we're not supposed to talk value here, but do these have any?

 

1. maybe Brazilian soapstone..??...with a quartz grain running thru it.
the siggy could be the owner or the artist , neither of whom are NA.
better folks than I could suggest a value.

2. I don't recognize this as Eskimo..or Inuit.

3. hunter & seals...placed on a slab......that kayak....is not much of a kayak...
Inuit...maybe.....Eskimo....possibly??.....

4. Iroquois False Face.......the #'s Shawn used are likely Iroqrafts code numbers.
Six Nations Ontario carving.... $30 to $50...depending...

5. Inuit....likely 70's.....and may have a very light marking on the feet that is rubbed away....or could be in sylabics.....which closely resemble scratch marks..
It's nice enough that @Mark London , may offer up a value !!

 

Thanks so much Komokwa, great info!
Can I ask what you mean by "neither of whom are NA"? Do you mean neither are North American, so not Inuit?

 

NA = Native American

The City of Armstrong is located in the North Okanagan of the Canadian province of British Columbia, between Vernon and Enderby.

No Inuit or Eskimo there !!!

 

Non-native Canadians have been known to carve stone as well.

 

Out in BC...yes lots of em !!

 

I really like the bear.

Found this online:

https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/obituaries/wilfred-charles-doolan/

Sounds like he was a great person and bit of a Renaissance man. It mentions he got into soapstone carving when he was in his 50's (based on his birth date, that translates into the 1980s).

Possibly the carver for the bear.

 

Wow! Great research. Enderby BC, is 13 mins from Armstrong BC which was signed on the bear. Sounds like it could be THE guy! Amazing! I'm trying to decide where to list the bear. Either on Ebay, or with the local auction house online, the auction house will ship worldwide if anyone is interested!

 

Still hoping for more info on the last piece, from the 1970s, and the kayak piece.

 

The last piece is the best of the lot and as Komokwa points out there are only 2 which are Inuit made. The kayak hunter features a captured seal in addition to an avataq which is an inflated seal flotation device which is usually attached to the end of the harpoon line. Sadly no great value to either piece.