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Artworks
NORVAL MORRISSEAU, C.M. (1931-2007) ANISHINAABE (OJIBWE)
Turtle, c. 1964-9acrylic on Arches France watermarked and blind stamped watercolour paper, 22.25 x 14.75 in (56.5 x 37.5 cm)
signed, "ᐅ/ᓴ/ᐘ/ᐱ/ᑯ/ᐱ/ᓀ/ᓯ";
with the outline of a bird by the artist in ink on the verso;
inscribed in graphite, verso, in an unknown hand, "SC8 / 60.00 / Turtle with Power".LOT 121
ESTIMATE: $1,500 — $2,500
PRICE REALIZED: $1,320.00The lines emanating from the figure are a stylistic device that Jack Pollock and Lister Sinclair refer to as 'Lines of Power' [1]. That this convention is present in this...The lines emanating from the figure are a stylistic device that Jack Pollock and Lister Sinclair refer to as "Lines of Power" [1]. That this convention is present in this work on paper suggests that we are not looking at a simple turtle motif. One interpretation of the subject may be that the figure represents Mikkinuk (also Makinak). Of another work of Mikkinuk, Morrisseau explained, "'When a shaman performs the Shaking Tent Ceremony, he needs someone who can interpret all the spirit voices he hears. The Ojibway call this interpreter the Mikkinuk. He looks like a small turtle but in spite of his size he is very powerful and can even be dangerous'" [2].
1. Lister Sinclair and Jack Pollock, The Art of Norval Morrisseau, (Toronto: Methuen Publications, 1979), p. 52.
2. Ibid., p. 62
Provenance
By repute of D&J Ritchie's, Toronto: Acquired directly from the artist by a Private Collection;
D&J Ritchie's, Toronto, 7 December 1987, lot 55, as "Turtle with Power Lines", illustrated p. 11
Private Collection, Ontario;
Bequeathed to the present Private Collection, Hamilton.
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