Bidspirit auction | Inuit Steatite Plaque with Incised

Inuit Steatite Plaque with Incised Owl - A Mid-20th Century finely worked steatite plaque, its surface incised with the simple yet evocative outline of an owl, an important bird in Inuit cosmology symbolizing wisdom and guardianship. The rich green stone has been shaped into an oval form with smooth edges, allowing the incised figure to stand out in sharp contrast. On the reverse, original Inuit Co-op stickers remain intact, indicating its early purchase and circulation through official Northern art channels in the mid-20th century. Works of this type were often created for Co-op sales in Arctic communities, where both stone carvings and incised plaques represented a vital economic and cultural exchange, connecting local artists to the burgeoning Canadian Inuit art market. This example, with its striking avian motif, bridges functional stone craft and symbolic representation. Measuring 5.75 x 4.25 in. Provenance: Ene Schoeler Collection of Inuit Art, an esteemed assemblage that reflects decades of dedicated collecting and support for Inuit carvers and Co-op communities.