Pauta Saila

Though made when the artist was nearly 50, this 1965 sculpture marks an early iteration of Pauta’s signature bears. Brooding and raw, squarely planted on two legs, this bear stands in contrast with later Dancing Bears, which can be more winsome than fierce. Similarly, it is less studied than later examples, and shows the artist’s earliest thoughts about the subject. As is the case with many of Pauta’s bears, the sculpture is gracefully balanced and harmonious in composition, expressing its own unique personality and verve. Collectors of Pauta’s work will enjoy owning one of his rare early creations.

This bear is also notable for its large size and excellent provenance, documented and dated by The Snow Goose Gallery, Ottawa. The stone used by Pauta reinforces its age, indicative of the period in which it was made. As Inuit artists typically use materials that can be found locally, regions can be distinguished by their distinctive stone or stones, sometimes even down to a particular quarry or vein. Once a particular vein of stone has been exhausted, another must be found, meaning that certain shades and variations of stone truly encapsulate a time and place.

For another early sculpture by the artist, please see lot 208, Owl, ca. 1964.

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