Woman with Bucket

Kinngait (Cape Dorset)
Serpentine, Antler
21.5" x 12.5" x 7"

A pivotal figure in 20th-century Inuit art, Qaqaq Ashoona was known for his preference for depicting human subjects over animals, especially women and maternal figures. He approached his art with both physical and emotional intensity, working exclusively with hand tools—chisels, rasps, and files. Avoiding electric tools out of a fear of injury, Qaqaq’s commitment to manual carving infused his sculptures with an organic intimacy and authenticity that echoed the rhythm of traditional Inuit life. Though more demanding, the human form allowed Qaqaq to express emotion, resilience, and identity with uncommon depth.

This captivating green-veined serpentine sculpture portrays an Inuk woman in traditional clothing with extraordinary reverence and detail. Cloaked in an amauti with the hood drawn protectively over her head, the figure’s grounded posture conveys quiet strength and timeless endurance. In her left hand, lowered by her hip, she carries a bucket with a delicately carved handle; in her right, she holds a ladle carved from antler, offering a striking contrast in texture and tone.