Eskimo Soapstone Figure

ca. 1980

5.625" H x 3.5" L x 2.875" W

Hand Carved from Soapstone of a Man Throwing an Ivory Spear with Etched Fine Detail

In Very Good Condition

Eskimo soapstone figures (more accurately called Inuit soapstone carvings) are beautiful hand-carved sculptures created by Inuit artists from Arctic regions of Canada (and sometimes Alaska or Greenland).

These figures are a cornerstone of Inuit art, which gained widespread recognition in the mid-20th century (especially from the 1940s–1950s onward) when southern markets and cooperatives encouraged commercial production. Soapstone (steatite) is a soft, talc-based stone that's easy to carve and polish, often resulting in smooth, tactile pieces ranging from deep green or black to lighter mottled tones.