Inuit Art Auction

May 30, 2017

LOT 18

Lot 18

BILLY GAUTHIER (1978-)

BILLY GAUTHIER (1978-)
Lot 18 Details
BILLY GAUTHIER (1978-), Happy Valley Goose Bay, Labrador

WE HAVE A VISITOR

stone, wooly mammoth ivory, anhydrite
signed in Roman and dated 2016
1.75" x 5.5" x 3.5" — 4.4 x 14 x 8.9 cm.

Estimate $300-$500

Realised: $1,750
Price Includes Buyer's Premium ?

Lot Report

Additional Images
BILLY GAUTHIER (1978-)
  • BILLY GAUTHIER (1978-)
  • BILLY GAUTHIER (1978-)
Literature:

spiritwrestler.com, Archived: “We have a Visitor”, Spirit Wrestler Gallery, Vancouver,

Note:

Billy’s first carving was made during a visit to his cousin John Terriak in 1996. Since then he has become an accomplished artist and one of the top names in Nunatsiavut art. Recently he made news for going on a hunger strike to protest the Muskrat Falls reservoir project which would contaminate the food supply for area residents.

Of this work, Gauthier says,

“In my experiences seal hunting in the spring I have noticed that a seal will have many holes to surface and breathe. The seal will deliberately alternate the breathing-hole used so to confuse any hunter waiting above whether it be a fox, wolf or polar bear or a hunter like me! This sculpture gives a view inside the den below the ice where the seal pup is living. The mother seal will keep the seal safely housed in the snow den. As soon as any visitor approaches the breathing-hole the mother will sense the vibrations and will swim through the breathing hole to the snow den to calm and warn the pup to keep silent. In this instance it is only another seal!”

CONDITION DETAILS

For condition information please contact the specialist.

LOT 18
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About Condition Ratings

  • 5 Stars: Excellent - No discernable damage, flaws or imperfections
  • 4 Stars: Very Good - Minor flaws or imperfections visible only under close inspection using specialised instruments or black light
  • 3 Stars: Good - Minor flaws visible upon inspection under standard lighting
  • 2 Stars: Fair - Exhibits flaws or damage that may draw the eye under standard lighting
  • 1 Star: Poor - Flaws or damage immediately apparent under standard lighting (examples: missing components, rips, broken glass, damaged surfaces, etc.)

Note: Condition ratings and condition details are the subjective opinions of our specialists and should be used as a guide only. Waddington’s uses due care when preparing condition details, however, our staff are not professional restorers or conservators. Condition details and reports are not warranties and each lot is sold “as is” in accordance with the buyer’s terms and conditions of sale. In all cases the prospective purchaser is responsible for inspecting the property themselves prior to placing a bid.