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Artworks
JOHN ATTOK (1906-1980) ARVIAT (ESKIMO POINT)
Standing Hunter, late 1960swhale bone, and antler, 6.25 x 4.5 x 3.25 in (15.9 x 11.4 x 8.3 cm)
inscribed with in ink registration number, "20399";
given to the maker to the affixed igloo tag, "Eskimo Point / OTTUK / 20399".LOT 115
ESTIMATE: $800 — $1,200Further images
Born in 1906, John Attok was one of the oldest carvers in Arviat. Born on the Hudson Bay coast, he began carving in Whale Cove in the early 1960s. Two...Born in 1906, John Attok was one of the oldest carvers in Arviat. Born on the Hudson Bay coast, he began carving in Whale Cove in the early 1960s. Two fine stone sculptures by Attok from the late 1960s were included in the famous Sculpture/Inuit exhibition of 1971-73 (cats. 103, 288), but he also enjoyed carving more whimsical works in antler and bone, and he continued carving until his eyesight failed in the early 1970s. This incredibly endearing Standing Hunter reminds us of a similarly refined work by Attok which graces the cover of the 1982 WAG Eskimo Point/Arviat catalogue. We wonder whether our “hunter” is not actually a young boy practising to be one!
References: For works by Attok, in bone, antler, and stone, see Bernadette Driscoll, Eskimo Point / Arviat, (Winnipeg: Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1983), cat. nos. 18-23; see also p. 105 for the artist’s bio. Attok’s Mother Nursing Child from 1967 has been reproduced many times including in George Swinton, Sculpture of the Inuit, (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1972/92), fig. 65, p. 46. What in our opinion is one of the most charming works of Inuit art ever created (!) is also by Attok; see Swinton (1972/92), fig. 80, p. 58.Provenance
An Ottawa Collection.
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