Eskimo Steatite Carving

Mid/Late 20th Century

6" H x 3.5" D

Hand Carved from Steatite of an Eskimo Man Figure with a Walrus Ivory Carved Face Holding a Flag

In Very Good Condition but Missing the Flag

From a private collection of George W. Patterson, of Tulsa, Ok; Missionary to the Makah and who lived at Neah Bay from 1964-1982. He had also spent a brief period of time on the Navajo reservation during this period. 

An Eskimo steatite carving is a traditional stone sculptures created by Inuit artists. Steatite is another name for soapstone, a soft, talc-rich metamorphic rock that's easy to carve and takes a smooth polish. Inuit carvers from Arctic regions of Canada (and sometimes Alaska) have long used this material for small figures depicting animals, hunters, family scenes, mythical beings, and everyday life.

These carvings have deep cultural roots, with early examples serving practical or spiritual purposes (like amulets or toys), but they became widely recognized as fine art in the mid-20th century, especially after the 1940s–1950s when commercial markets grew. Famous communities include Cape Dorset, where soapstone enabled detailed, expressive works. While soapstone (steatite) is iconic, many Inuit sculptures use harder stones like serpentine or peridotite.