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Artworks
BARNABUS ARNASUNGAAQ (1924-2017) QAMANI'TUAQ (BAKER LAKE)
Figures Preparing a Qamutiik (Komatik), c. early 1970smuskox horn and stone, 2.75 x 8.75 x 3.25 in (7 x 22.2 x 8.3 cm)
unsigned.LOT 25
ESTIMATE: $600 — $900
PRICE REALIZED: $492.00
26 February 2026Further images
Muskox horn is seldom encountered in carving and while Barnabus is best known for his works in stone, he did, at times, work both ivory and horn [1]. Here, the...Muskox horn is seldom encountered in carving and while Barnabus is best known for his works in stone, he did, at times, work both ivory and horn [1]. Here, the horn’s own character takes an active role: fine growth lines and tiny natural variations read as intentional texture, lending the figure a sense of presence. On a slate base, the figures and their qamutiik (komatik) that they prepare show off just how expressive muskox horn can be. It has a wonderfully alive surface: creamy highs, honeyed mid-tones, and deeper shadows that shift as the light moves. Those tonal variations come from natural growth layers in the horn, along with subtle differences in density, wear, and polishing, which bring out gentle striations and an understated warmth.1. Other examples by the artist can be seen in our December 2023 sale, lots 147, 148, and 149, as well as in our July 2023 auction, Lot 19.
Provenance
Private Collection, Toronto.
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