12" Sleepy Muskox Gjoa Haven Louie Uttaq

Inuit art: Muskox
Inuit Artist: Louie Uttaq
Size: 12" long, 6" High, 4" wide
Community: Gjoa Haven, NU
Material: Mudstone
id: c-092

I am going to take liberty with a Will Rogers quote ( popular American entertainer and humourist 1879-1935).

I never met a Muskox I didn't like.

I've tried to pinpoint that one feature, or that one emotion I feel when I see a Muskox.

Could it be the size? Huge, imposing.... a protective wall.

Their horn headpiece? It is regal and inspiring.

I am in awe of the back "hump" and the dreadlock hair? Astonishing!

I am fascinated with the countless ways the Inuit artists portray Muskoxen. I have been so lucky and honoured to see hundreds of Muskox carvings and all of them are striking in their own way.

This pensive Louie Uttaq Muskox is carved using Mudstone*. Although the camera lights gives the stone a mustard gold look, the actual colour is more of a warm medium tan.

If I had to pick one salient feature of Uttaq's Muskox as my favourite I would pick the face.  Half closed wide set eyes, prominent flared nostrils, high cheekbones, wide thin lipped mouth, strong jaws.  

There is a peace that flows from this animal that is palpable. Is he deep in thought or is he fading into sleep?

BUT I also admire this sculpture's thick swinging coat of hair and his horn headpiece which is carved as a separate piece and placed on the massive forehead. 

The Gjoa Haven artists often carve the headpiece as a separate piece.  I can't recall seeing this from the other Arctic regions.

Uttaq celebrates the Muskox with this glorious piece.

This piece would be a wonderful gift or a joyous Gjoa Haven addition to your collection.

*Mudstone is a sedimentary rock made up of fine grained clay particles compressed together. It is formed where clay has settle out in calm water like lakes, lagoons or deep seas.

See our notes on The Gjoa Haven Collection.

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