Materials

Stone, Copper

Description

"Soapstone" carving of person holding either a spear or a scepter made of copper. Person is wearing round hat with circle detail on the rim. Face is round. Eyes are carved in oblong shape with circles carved in middle for pupils. Marking for nose, potentially chipped. Incision for small straight mouth. Intentional scratches curved beside right side and underneath head. Right (proper) arm snakishly curved and holding spear/scepter in right (proper) hand. Hole in proper right hand for copper spear/scepter to go through (see 78.1.171b). Proper left arm at side with hand on front. Fingers are not defined, likely wearing mittens. Appears to be wearig parka, with rectangular strip of darker green colour in the middle. Wearing pants and boots and standing on base. Proper left foot has small gap from base. Bottom of base is inscribed in capital letters. 
Inscribed on base "Mr and Mrs Diefenbaker A Midgley Brome Age 78". A Midgley Brome is unidentified, but they could be the artist or the gifter. Could also refer to an A. Midgley from the Brome region in Quebec. 

The addition of metal to an Inuit stone sculpture is unique.

Marks/Labels

Inscribed on base: 
"Mr and Mrs Diefenbaker
A Midgley Brome 
Age 78"
 ;Accession number inscribed on back of base in black.

Category

Carving