Vintage Inuit Carved Sculpture Jointed Small Doll Caribou Bone

For your consideration is an interesting and mysterious antique doll carved of caribou antler by the Inuit tribesman native to Alaska and Canada. This came from an estate of an avid collector of Inuit dolls, ivory carvings, all from the Pacific Northwest, Canada and Alaska. We were enchanted with this doll because it is so primitive and has such an interesting carved face. One thing that really stood out to us is, typically, Inuit carved "dolls" were more realistic and used for commercial sale. They were more detailed with clothing, fur, etc. Dolls like this "human figure" were sometimes used by shamans for religious purposes and were not made as toys. The human figure carvings may have been precursors to later dolls, but early pieces like this one were considered talismans used for good luck. Dolls like these were typically made of caribou antler (a renewable resource shed by the animal on a yearly basis). The limbs are also made of antler and attached to the body with dried sinew. Sinew, as you know, is the fibrous tendon holding muscle to bone. The limbs are wonderfully animated, moving independently of the body; the face is carved with a delightful surprised expression. Often, this would have been the only toy a little girl might have had. The doll's bottom is perfectly flat, allowing it to sit upright on a surface and measures 2 1/2" high by 2 1/2" wide. The doll shows some wear and darkening, though this is to certainly to be expected.