Wonderful Old Inuit Carved Wood Figure in Hide Parka spear fishing decoy but with a big presence

but with a big presence

so would guess it dates to around then

an avid seaman

The top of the stopper almost looks to be carved with a name or face or something

Wonderful Old Inuit Carved Wood Figure in Hide Parka spear fishing decoy but with a big presenceWhat a face. And what a marvelously gestural body. This carved figure is definitely Inuit, I think likely Greenlandic, and I am sure once sat in a hide covered kayak, with his carved hands probably gripping carved wooden oars. The leather of his coat has aged and hardened in what I find a most beautiful way, to hold this sort of raised shoulder, dangling hands shrugging posture that feels full of character and full of life. I've looked at enough of