This fine sculpture is remarkable for a couple of reasons: its set of teeth, and its charm (in no particular order!). We don’t recall seeing this kind of dentition on an early Inukjuak bear before. This really quite impressive set of dentures (probably bone and not ivory) has teeth that are quite small and very regular; they had to be small, because the mouth is not open very wide. This is in its own way appealing, but the charm level is dialed up because this bear holds its seal prey almost as a mother bear would hold its cub (or a human mother her small child). The seal, far from being dead, looks at us with a peeved expression. Hilarious! The overall form of the sculpture is appealing as well; the work is compact yet fully and expertly carved. We only wish we knew who carved it; the curiously upturned snout does offer a clue. There are a few tantalizing possibilities: Amidlak, Elijassiapik, and Eli Weetaluktuk come to mind, but we may never know for sure [1].

1. For a few comparables, see First Arts auctions: 4 Dec. 2023, Lot 115 (Amidlak); 12 June 2023, Lot 10 (Elijassiapik); 2 Dec. 2024, Lot 104 (Eli Weetaluktuk).