First Arts company logo
First Arts
Skip to main content
  • Menu
  • Home
  • Available Artworks
  • Auctions & Exhibitions
  • About
  • SERVICES
  • News & Blog
Menu

Artworks

Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: ENNUTSIAK (1893-1967) IQALUIT (FROBISHER BAY), Gathering for a Meal, 1963
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: ENNUTSIAK (1893-1967) IQALUIT (FROBISHER BAY), Gathering for a Meal, 1963
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: ENNUTSIAK (1893-1967) IQALUIT (FROBISHER BAY), Gathering for a Meal, 1963
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: ENNUTSIAK (1893-1967) IQALUIT (FROBISHER BAY), Gathering for a Meal, 1963

ENNUTSIAK (1893-1967) IQALUIT (FROBISHER BAY)

Gathering for a Meal, 1963
stone, ivory, and glue or shellac [?], 3.5 x 5.75 x 6 in (8.9 x 14.6 x 15.2 cm)
signed, "ᐁᐱᓕ ᐃᓄᓯᐊ".

LOT 8
ESTIMATE: $10,000 ⁠— $15,000
PRICE REALIZED: $22,800.00

Further images

  • (View a larger image of thumbnail 1 ) ENNUTSIAK (1893-1967) IQALUIT (FROBISHER BAY), Gathering for a Meal, 1963
  • (View a larger image of thumbnail 2 ) ENNUTSIAK (1893-1967) IQALUIT (FROBISHER BAY), Gathering for a Meal, 1963
  • (View a larger image of thumbnail 3 ) ENNUTSIAK (1893-1967) IQALUIT (FROBISHER BAY), Gathering for a Meal, 1963
  • (View a larger image of thumbnail 4 ) ENNUTSIAK (1893-1967) IQALUIT (FROBISHER BAY), Gathering for a Meal, 1963
  • Gathering for a Meal
Ennutsiak grew up in the Nunavik region (Arctic Quebec) and migrated by umiaq to southern Baffin Island. He lived most of his life on the land before settling in Iqaluit...
Read more

Ennutsiak grew up in the Nunavik region (Arctic Quebec) and migrated by umiaq to southern Baffin Island. He lived most of his life on the land before settling in Iqaluit (then Frobisher Bay). Ennutsiak carved steadily already in the 1950s, selling many of his works to servicemen working on the DEW Line. Ennutsiak’s work is charmingly descriptive, typically depicting several figures arranged on a stone base in a tableau style and engaged in a variety of communal activities such as travelling on the land, hunting, flensing catch, and even bible reading. He is probably most famous for his birthing scenes, and only occasionally carved single figures (see Lot 44).


Gathering for a Meal is a classic example of the artist’s style, beautifully illustrating Ennutsiak’s strong attachment to family and community. Gathered in a circle around a traditional stone cooking pot, this family or group of friends shares a meal of meat and tea (or possibly broth). As is usually the case in Ennutsiak’s art, the base and figures are carved from a single piece of stone. This captivating sculpture also has a feature that we have never seen before: the artist poured a thin layer of glue or shellac into each cup to represent the liquid contents. It’s a brilliant folk art-type touch that reminds us of Joe Talirunili’s work.


References: For important works by the artist see Gerald McMaster, ed., Inuit Modern: The Samuel and Esther Sarick Collection, (Toronto: Art Gallery of Ontario, 2010), p. 83; Bernadette Driscoll, Baffin Island, (Winnipeg: Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1983), cats. 30-33; Bernadette Driscoll, The Inuit Amautik: I Like my Hood to be Full, (Winnipeg: Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1980), cat. 20, p. 62; Winnipeg Art Gallery, The Mulders’ Collection, (Winnipeg: Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1976), cat. 85; Maria von Finckenstein ed., Celebrating Inuit Art 1948-1970, (Gatineau: Canadian Museum of Civilization, 1999), p. 131-133; George Swinton, Sculpture of the Inuit, (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1972/92), fig. 45, p. 26.
Close full details

Provenance

A farewell gift to an RCMP Superintendent and his wife in 1963, who were stationed in Iqaluit for three years;
Waddington’s, May 2016, Lot 74;
Acquired from the above by John and Joyce Price, Seattle, WA.
Share
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Email

FIRST ARTS PREMIERS INC.  
 647-286-5012   |    info@firstarts.ca 

 

The main office of First Arts Premiers Inc. is located on the ancestral and traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Huron-Wendat, the original owners and custodians of this land.  Today, it is home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

 

 

 

Join Our Mailing List

 

JOIN

 

 

 

Facebook, opens in a new tab.
Instagram, opens in a new tab.
Send an email
Manage cookies
Copyright © 2025 First Arts
Site by Artlogic

This website uses cookies
This site uses cookies to help make it more useful to you. Please contact us to find out more about our Cookie Policy.

Manage cookies
Accept

Cookie preferences

Check the boxes for the cookie categories you allow our site to use

Cookie options
Required for the website to function and cannot be disabled.
Improve your experience on the website by storing choices you make about how it should function.
Allow us to collect anonymous usage data in order to improve the experience on our website.
Allow us to identify our visitors so that we can offer personalised, targeted marketing.
Save preferences
Close

Join our mailing list

Join

* denotes required fields

We will process the personal data you have supplied in accordance with our privacy policy (available on request). You can unsubscribe or change your preferences at any time by clicking the link in our emails.