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Vintage Canadian Inuit Musk Ox Carving – Green Stone & Antler – Signed/Initialed – Canada Eskimo Art TagBeautiful vintage Canadian Inuit musk ox carving, hand-carved from green/gray stone with contrasting pale antler/bone elements forming the horns.The carving has a distinctive, highly textured treatment of the musk ox’s long shaggy coat, with a more smoothly worked upper body and pronounced rough/fringed detailing along the lower edge. The natural variation in the stone and hand-worked asymmetry are visible throughout.The underside retains an older Canada Eskimo Art / Esquimau Igloo Tag, a historically significant Canadian Inuit art authenticity/trade marking.There is also an incised inscription/initials on the underside. The mark appears to read “JJ”, although the inscription is worn and the exact reading is not guaranteed. Photos show the marking in detail.Artist attributionThe carving has been stylistically attributed to Nuveeya Ipellie (1920–2010), Iqaluit/Frobisher Bay, a documented Inuit sculptor particularly associated with musk ox carvings.However, artist attribution is not independently authenticated, and I am therefore offering this as “attributed to / likely Nuveeya Ipellie” rather than representing the attribution as certain.The carving’s form, green stone, applied horn elements and treatment of the musk ox’s coat are consistent with documented examples of Ipellie’s work.Details* Subject: Musk Ox
* Culture/Region: Canadian Inuit
* Likely region: Iqaluit / Frobisher Bay, Nunavut
* Attributed artist: Nuveeya Ipellie (1920–2010)
* Material: Stone with antler/bone elements
* Signature: Incised underside inscription, appears possibly “JJ”
* Tag: Canada Eskimo Art / Esquimau Igloo Tag
* Approx. dimensions: 4.25” long × 2.5” high × approximately 1.75–2” deep
* Condition: Vintage/original condition with surface wear, natural stone variation, age-related discoloration and areas of surface abrasion consistent with age and handling. Please examine all photographs carefully.This is a small but exceptionally characterful Inuit animal sculpture, and the combination of the vintage Canada Eskimo Art tag, underside inscription and distinctive musk ox form makes it an especially interesting example for collectors of Canadian Inuit sculpture.Please use the photographs as the primary condition reference.
