Historically, whalers and other traders in the Canadian Arctic encouraged the production of decorated objects by Inuit artists. Cribbage boards, incised walrus tusks (see lots 93 and 121), and chess sets became part of this exchange economy, carrying northern skill into southern hands. With the growth of commercial art making in the 1950s, game pieces continued to be produced, though their presence diminished after the 1960s. The present work, a set carved in 1979, is notable as an unusually late example of a form that had largely fallen out of practice.

In examining this set, one sees more than the function of a board game. Each figure is rendered with careful attention to scale and detail, a demonstration of Qaqaq’s precision that turns practical game pieces into a display of his technical skill. This collection of forms recalls the variety for which Qaqaq became celebrated: human figures and animals, and other traditional arctic motifs. Together, they demonstrate an imagination both attentive and ambitious, turning a familiar game into a stage for artistic virtuosity.