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Artworks
UNIDENTIFIED INUIT ARTIST, EASTERN CANADIAN ARCTIC
Model Qulliq with Decorative Seal, c. 1955stone, ivory, and red inlay, 2.25 x 10 x 4.5 in (5.7 x 25.4 x 11.4 cm)
unsigned.
LOT 36
ESTIMATE: $350 — $500Further images
The Inuit stone lamp, or qulliq (also spelled kudlik or qullik), was central to camp life. Carved from stone and fuelled by rendered seal or whale fat, it used a...The Inuit stone lamp, or qulliq (also spelled kudlik or qullik), was central to camp life. Carved from stone and fuelled by rendered seal or whale fat, it used a wick made of moss or Arctic cotton. The qulliq was a vital survival tool, providing light and heat that allowed families to stay warm, cook food, and dry clothing. Tending the lamp required skill, involving the use of a taggut (see Lot 49) to draw small amounts of oil toward the wick.
This finely made stone model attests to the cultural and spiritual importance of the qulliq, employing a clever contrast of materials to depict the flame. The small seal effigy likely gives thanks to the spirit of the animal that provided life-sustaining nourishment and fuel.Provenance
Ex. Coll. Colin John Grasset Molson (C.J.G ), Montreal.
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