Greenlandic Inuit Hand Carved Tupilak Figure Vintage Rare Inuit Folklore Piece For Sale

Offered here is a fascinating hand-carved Greenland Inuit TUPILAK (also spelled Tupilaq) figure measuring approximately 5-1/2 inches long.This unusual figure depicts a fantastical anthropomorphic creature in a crawling position, with an elongated body, bent arms and legs, dramatically carved facial features, large inset dark eyes, pierced nostrils, incised facial details, and an exaggerated projecting tongue or mouth.The figure has a wonderful grotesque appearance characteristic of traditional Greenlandic tupilak carvings.ABOUT THE TUPILAK:The tupilak has a fascinating history in Greenlandic Inuit folklore.Traditionally, a tupilak was not simply a carved figurine, but a supernatural creature or spirit associated with traditional magical practices. According to Greenlandic tradition, a tupilak could be created and brought to life through ritual and sent out against an enemy.These beings were imagined as fantastic combinations of human, animal, and supernatural characteristics and could take many different forms — walking, crawling, creeping, or swimming.The tupilak was also considered dangerous to its creator. Tradition held that if the intended victim possessed greater supernatural power, the tupilak could be repelled and sent back against the person who created it.As outsiders became increasingly interested in Greenland and its folklore, Greenlandic artists began carving physical representations of these legendary beings. These carvings developed into one of the most distinctive and recognizable forms of Greenlandic Inuit art.Their exaggerated features — staring eyes, large nostrils, skeletal or animal-like faces, prominent teeth and tongues, and bodies combining human and animal characteristics — reflect the strange, frightening, humorous, and supernatural nature traditionally associated with the tupilak.• Greenland Inuit tupilak / tupilaq figure
• Hand carved
• Believed early 20th century; exact date unknown
• Approximately 5-1/2 inches long
• Large inset dark eyes
• Detailed hand-carved facial features
• Exaggerated projecting tongue/mouth
• Crawling anthropomorphic creature form
• Unsigned
• Exact carving material unknown
• Estate / collection pieceGood vintage/antique condition with age-related surface wear, coloration, marks, and minor imperfections consistent with a hand-carved collectible.Please examine all photographs carefully. They are an important part of the description and show the actual item you will receive.No attempt has been made to definitively identify the carving material or the material used for the inset eyes. The exact materials are unknown, and the piece is being offered and described simply as a hand-carved Greenland Inuit tupilak figure.A fascinating piece of Greenlandic Inuit folk art with an especially expressive face and wonderful supernatural character.Please review all photographs for condition, construction, details, and appearance before purchasing. All sales final. No returns. Shipping is included in the purchase price.
This one of a kind rare piece will be packaged carefully so that it arrives safely.
Here is your chance to own your very own, Rare, 1 of a kind, Tupilak Monster.