3.5" Gleeful Dancing Bear by Adamie Mathewsie

Inuit art: Dancing Bear    
Inuit Artist: Adamie Mathewsie
Size: 4" tall, 2" wide
Community: Cape Dorset, NU
Stone: Serpentine
id: dfa-AL6047Oijy

Small bears are one of the true treasures of Inuit carving. 

People are drawn to “small” objects, perhaps as a subconscious return to the innocence of childhood.

I usually think of small bears as being six inches or less.  Within this group, are the mini bears.

This Mathewsie bear is small in stature but his appeal is large.

I admire the Inuit carvers who create these small pieces.  They are as perfect and detailed as the larger bears BUT so much more difficult to accomplish. 

Can you imagine how difficult it is to carve five separate claws on the paw of a mini bear compared to a bear that is a foot tall?

This adorable fellow is dancing on one foot (which is already a difficult posture to carve for an artist) and his vertical posture is perfect. He radiates merriment and gaiety. If you placed him at your desk, you would never stop smiling. 

And because the small bears are so affordable, collectors often have many small bears in their collections.

And gifting a small bear is a guaranteed win.

Is there any sculpture that is more enchanting than a small bear? 

I never have enough of them on hand for my clients.

See our May 30, 2021 blog Spotlight on the Dancing Bear.

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