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Artworks
UNIDENTIFIED INUIT ARTIST, NAUJAAT (REPULSE BAY)
Model Qulliq (Kudlik) on Base, c. 1960stone, antler, and wood, 3 x 5.75 x 2.75 in (7.6 x 14.6 x 7 cm)
unsigned;
with affixed label from La Guilde (The Canadian Handicrafts Guild), in blue ink, "DRS / 4.80”;LOT 17
ESTIMATE: $200 — $300Further images
The qulliq (also spelled kudlik) is a traditional stone oil lamp, central to Inuit life for thousands of years. The qulliq provided a vital source of light and heat during...The qulliq (also spelled kudlik) is a traditional stone oil lamp, central to Inuit life for thousands of years. The qulliq provided a vital source of light and heat during the long polar night, and it was also used for cooking and drying clothing. The qulliq was positioned atop an insulating base to minimize heat loss. Beyond its practical uses, the lamp held deep cultural and spiritual significance, symbolizing warmth, survival, and community. As Inuit began to settle into communities with permanent housing, many artists sought to preserve objects that had shaped their daily survival. Today, qulliqs are still lit in ceremonial contexts, maintaining their role as enduring symbols of Inuit identity and resilience. While standalone qulliqs are relatively common, one wonders whether many originally featured bases that have since been lost to time.
Provenance
Ex. Coll. Colin John Grasset Molson (C.J.G ), Montreal.
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