Qaqaq Ashoona is a titan of early Kinngait sculpture, counted alongside his brother Kiugak, as well as Sheokjuk Oqutaq, and Niviaqsi (see lot 36). While he enjoyed a long and successful career, many would argue he was at his finest in the 1950s. The present work, from this desirable period, is carved from a slender slab of dense stone, yet the figure’s elegant proportions and curves bring life to an otherwise static pose. Despite the hardness of the material, the sculpture brims with visual detail. The beautifully rendered face and garment are quintessential Qaqaq, and even seemingly minor elements, such as a braid slipping from the confines of her hood, attest to the artist’s technical and observational skill. Completing the composition is an impossibly charming arctic hare under the woman’s arm, rendered with almost microscopic care. Fabulous.

MBL