Inuit Art

September 16, 2020

LOT 52

Lot 52

JUDAS ULLULAQ (1937-1999)

JUDAS ULLULAQ (1937-1999)
Lot 52 Details
JUDAS ULLULAQ (1937-1999), Gjoa Haven / Uqsuqtuuq

MUSK OX AND YOUNG

stone, horn, antler
signed in syllabics
17.5 x 13 x 9 in — 44.5 x 33 x 22.9 cm

Estimate $10,000-$15,000

Realised: $16,800
Price Includes Buyer's Premium ?

Lot Report

Additional Images
JUDAS ULLULAQ (1937-1999)
  • JUDAS ULLULAQ (1937-1999)
  • JUDAS ULLULAQ (1937-1999)
  • JUDAS ULLULAQ (1937-1999)
Provenance:

Private Collection, Toronto, ON

Note:

Judas Ullulaq lived in the traditional Inuit way until the 1960's when he settled in Taloyoak, Nunavut, with his family. Like many other Inuk artists at this time, he began to produce carvings as an alternative source of income. Ullulaq’s stone carvings often feature highly expressionistic facial gestures, bodily movements, and natural materials such an antler and ivory. His peculiar characters and beings, with all their inflated emotions, appear to burst out of the stone sheath that contains them.

In this work, Musk Ox and Young, Ullulaq represents the close relationship between generations of musk ox and its significance to the Inuit people. The Inuit name for musk ox is omingmak, meaning “animal with skin like a beard.” For many centuries, they have been hunted by the Inuit for their meat, skin, and horns, which are then fashioned into various survival instruments and weaponry. Beyond this, musk ox carry spiritual meaning to the Inuit in that their physical power and resilience to harsh living conditions symbolize strength and survival.

Musk Ox and Young pays homage to this valuable source of sustenance while acting as a metaphor for the importance of strong familial relationships





Matthew Ryan Smith, Ph.D., is the Curator and Head of Collections at Glenhyrst Art Gallery in Brantford, Ontario.



CONDITION DETAILS

For condition information please contact the specialist.

LOT 52
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About Condition Ratings

  • 5 Stars: Excellent - No discernable damage, flaws or imperfections
  • 4 Stars: Very Good - Minor flaws or imperfections visible only under close inspection using specialised instruments or black light
  • 3 Stars: Good - Minor flaws visible upon inspection under standard lighting
  • 2 Stars: Fair - Exhibits flaws or damage that may draw the eye under standard lighting
  • 1 Star: Poor - Flaws or damage immediately apparent under standard lighting (examples: missing components, rips, broken glass, damaged surfaces, etc.)

Note: Condition ratings and condition details are the subjective opinions of our specialists and should be used as a guide only. Waddington’s uses due care when preparing condition details, however, our staff are not professional restorers or conservators. Condition details and reports are not warranties and each lot is sold “as is” in accordance with the buyer’s terms and conditions of sale. In all cases the prospective purchaser is responsible for inspecting the property themselves prior to placing a bid.