Elegant Inuit Carved Stone Polar Bear lidded box with Fornasetti mark on reverse

with Fornasetti mark on reverse

In part it is the completely painterly paint job that makes it great--looking quite like an abstract expressionist painting but at the same time very cow like

and then what looks like "aet" rather than "age" before 13

“Tommy Ruthven

and would take some work to get apart

Elegant Inuit Carved Stone Polar Bear lidded box with Fornasetti mark on reverseAnother beautifully minimal Inuit carving, this one reminding me some of the work of Andy Miki (1918 1983; Arviat) in its graceful lines and elongated head (I've included one photo for reference) as well as in the light gray stone. It also shares a spirit I think with small 19th century Inuit tusk carved amulets from the Bering Sea area. To me it really feels as if walking very softly over ice, very gentle, and with a lovely, serene presence. 4 7 16"