Current
Exhibition
Santa Fe Virtual Show
14-18 January
We are thrilled to be part of the 2021 edition of the Winter Santa Fe Virtual Show.
Stay tuned for an upcoming selection of ancient arts from North America, Oceania & Africa, online on January 14th, 2021.
Online January 14th!
santafevirtual.com
In the Arctic…
December
Digital exhibition
Thematic exhibition “in the Arctic”
Ancient Eskimo Arts
Antique works of art from Alaska, born of archaic North American Eskimo cultures, are exceedingly rare. Archaic Eskimo art – whose oldest sculptures excavated from the frozen permafrost go back nearly 2,500 years – conceals poetry, mystery and a power of evocation that are unique.
Stylization of features, alliance of naturalism and symbolism, sculptural finesse, sobriety and a hieratic quality – these are the key features characterizing this several thousand years old aesthetic style, whose parallels with modern art are striking.
These sculptures and masks with their vibrant souls, veritable « gifts from the ancestors », to use the title of the 2009 Princeton exhibition, have managed to transcend time and space to inspire us in the present day.
It is this inexhaustible source of emotion and evocation that we wish to show through our exhibition “In the Arctic…” which we invite you to discover.
Parka
Yup’ik child’s parka (Inuit)
Alaska
Seal gut, sealskin, fur and red and natural fibers
19th century
Height: 20 in. (51 cm)
Width: 26 ¼ in. (67 cm)
Collected at Gambell Village, St Lawrence Island.
Ex collection The Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio, inventory number 80.0.24.
Ex Cowan’s Auction Inc., Cincinnati, American Indian and Western Art, March 31, 2007, lot 42.
Ex private collection, Canada.
Eskimo in Rain Suit
Photograph by the Lomen Brothers
Nome, Alaska
Circa 1900
Vintage gelatin silver print
Height: 12 cm (4 ¾ in.) / Width: 7 cm (2 ¾ in.)
Inuit snow goggles
Alaska
Carved wood
19th century
Length: 6 in. (15 cm)
Ex collection Trotta Bono, New York
Ex private European collection
Masks
Yup’ik shaman mask (Eskimo)
Kuskokwim Valley, Southern Alaska
Carved wood and pigments
Second half of 19th century
Height: 6 in. (15.5 cm)
Provenance:
Ex collection Charles Miles, Accession number in white ink: 5740
Ex collection Gary Spratt, California
Ex collection Merton Simpson, New York
Ex collection George Terasaki / Trotta-Bono, New York
Ex collection Fred Boschan, USA
Illustrated in:
Indian and Eskimo Artifacts of North America, Miles Charles, Bonanza Books, New York, 1963, p.150, fig.# 6.28.
Yup’ik finger masks (Eskimo)
Kuskokwim delta, Alaska
Wood, caribou fur, pigments
Early 20th century
Height : 5 ¼ in. (13 cm)
Collected by Rev. Augustus Martin in Kwigillingok, Alaska circa 1926-1935
Ex Jeffrey Myers, New York, acquired in 2005
Ex private collection, Europe
Yup’ik shamanic mask (Eskimo)
Sculpin inua (spirit) mask
Lower Yukon, Alaska
Carved wood
19th century
Height: 20 in.(51 cm)
Provenance:
Ex collection Basha & Perry Lewis, New York, acquired in the 1990s
Ex collection Jeffrey R. Myers, New York
Ex collection Pinchas Mendelson, New York, since 2002
The Subarctic region inhabited by the Yup’ik is well supplied with land and sea resources allowing for much time that could be devoted to a full ceremonial life. After freeze-up in the winter, performance cycles were undertaken that were important to maintaining proper human, animal, and spirit-world interactions. Performed inside the qasgiq (communal men’s house) during festivals, dances feature face and finger masks that make visible the world of helping spirits and extraordinary beings, and are specially made to tell particular stories. Often used by shamans to facilitate communication and movement between worlds (human and animal, the living and the dead), Yup’ik masks usually were discarded after use.
Reading tips
The living tradition of Yup’ik masks
Ann Fienup-Riordan
1996
Human figures
Punuk exceptional Torso
Alaska
Punuk culture (Archaic Eskimo)
9th-12th century
Carved walrus tooth
Height: 7 ¾ in. (19 cm)
Excavated at Kialegak, St. Lawrence Island
Presumably ex collection Adelaide De Menil & Ted Carpenter, New York
Ex collection Jeffrey Myers, New York
Ex John Giltsoff, Brussels, acquired from the above
Ex European private collection
Published: Winter Bruneaf 2014 catalog, Galerie Indigènes / John Giltsoff pp. 36-37
Exhibited: Parcours des Mondes 2014, John Giltsoff
Human figure
Alaska
Thule culture (Ancient Eskimo)
Prior 19th century
Carved walrus tooth
Height: 3 ¼ in. (8.5 cm)
Ex collection Donald Ellis Gallery
According to Fitzhugh et Kaplan (Inua: Spirit World of the Bering Sea Eskimo, 1982 : 156), these carved figurines were carved for several purposes: to stand in for people absent from the village during festivals, to avert infertility, or else to focus the attention of animal inua (spirit) during the Doll Festival, which was held to bless hunting and fishing expeditions in the coming year.
Reading tips
Gifts from the Ancestors: Ancient Ivories of Bering Strait
William W. Fitzhugh, Julia J. Hollowell, Aron Crowell
Princeton University Art Museum
2009
Harpoon head
Alaska
Old Bering Sea Culture
Circa 400 – 800 AD
Marine ivory
Length: 5 in. (13cm)
Ex collection Paul Steinhacker, New York, collected on St Lawrence Island in 1978.
Ex private collection, Canada.
A Yup’ik seal hunter
Nunivak, Alaska
Edward S. Curtis
“The North American Indian”, Volume XX (1930)
Harpoon stabilizer
Alaska
Old Bering Sea II culture (Archaic Eskimo)
100 – 300 A.D.
Carved walrus tusk
Length: 4 ½ in. (11.2 cm)
Ex private collection, New York
Ex private collection, Geneva
Sea mammal figure – Fishing lure
Alaska
Thule culture (Ancient Eskimo)
Circa 1500-1700 A.D.
Carved walrus tooth
Length: 5 ¾ in. (14.5 cm)
Ex collection Anthony J.P. Meyer, Paris
Spear-thrower (atlatl)
Alaska
Yup’ik culture (Inuit)
Carved wood, marine ivory
Early 20th century or earlier
Height: 13 ¼ in. (34 cm)
Ex collection Finch & Co, London
Exhibited & published: A la découverte de la culture Inuit, Cannes, Centre d’Art de la Malmaison, 2017
Peary’s expedition North Pole
Painted décor depicting Robert Peary’s expedition to the North Pole in 1908-1909
Dimensions:
Approximately 22.5m long by 2.5m high
Made by the Millard & Co. studio in New York, USA circa 1910s
Ex collection Jeffrey R. Myers, New York
Exhibited & published:
A la découverte de la culture Inuit, Cannes, Centre d’Art de la Malmaison, 2017
Photos: Courtesy Centre d’Art de la Malmaiso
Amulets
Polar bear figure
Alaska
Old Bering Sea Culture
100-500 AD
Marine ivory
Length: 3 in. (7.5 cm)
Ex collection Guy Porré & Nathalie Chaboche
Seal effigy
Alaska
Yup’ik culture (Eskimo)
Carved wood and metal
Early 20th century
Length: 8 in. (20.5 cm)
Ex collection of the artist Robert Riggs (1896-1970), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Ex collection Isa Barnett (1922-2001), Sante Fe, New Mexico
By descent
Ex collection Craig Finch, London
Whale figure
Alaska
Thule Culture (ancient Eskimo)
Prior to the 18th century
Carved walrus tooth
Height: 3 in. (7.4 cm)
Ex collection Jeffrey Myers, New York
Inuit Kayak model
Alaska
Carved wood and hide
Early 20th century
Length: between 19 in. and 28 ½ in.
(48.5 cm and 72.5 cm)
Exhibited and published: A la découverte de la Culture Inuit, Cannes, Centre d’Art de la Malmaison, 2017, p. 37-41.
Kayak
The Kayak of the Eskimo
Keystone View Company, Alaska
Photography: 1904, St. Louis World’s Fair
Contemporary platinum print
Height: 43 cm / Length: 44 cm
PADesignart Online
January
We are delighted to invite you to visit the PAD online. We present a selection of works, ritual masks and statues, which combine aesthetic excellence, sculptural presence and superb stylizations. These artworks offer perfect resonance with the elegance of contemporary design forms
Website: PADesignart Online
Upcoming Exhibition
San Francisco
Tribal & Textile Artshow
Online
24 - 28 February
The Virtual Edition of the 35th San Francisco Tribal & Textile Arts Show will feature exhibitors from around the world featuring Top-Tier Tribal Art and Textiles from Africa, Oceania, Asia, Australia and the Americas and we are proud to be part of it!
Online February 24th!
Archives
20
Archives
5-6 December 2020
#Visitons nos Galeries
Galerie Flak is delighted to invite you to the second edition of #Visitons nos Galeries from Saturday 5th to Sunday 6th December.
Over 80 galleries in St-Germain-des-Prés are joining forces for a group happening
Archives
26-29 November 2020
Artview Space
Artview Space is a beautiful, handcrafted Parisian apartment in which 10 galeries renowned in their field will be given free rein.
This exhibition showcase more than 40 selected and exclusive pieces in situ.
We are delighted to invite you on this artistic journey filled with unique aesthetic combinations. The resulting experience is an inspiring dialogue between Design, Tribal , Asian, Modern & Contemporary art.
The viewing room is now closed.
Overview
Video
Archives
26-29 November 2020
Paris Tribal 2020
Digital exhibition
Website: ParisTribal.com
Thematic exhibition “in the Arctic”
Ancient Eskimo Arts
Archives
5th November 2020
Beaux-Arts Thursday
Archives
1st and 8th October 2020
October exhibitions
Galerie Flak is pleased to welcome you to those two October events
Jeudi des Beaux Arts
Thursday, October 1st: 6pm-9pm
New Event :
Rendez vous
Thursday, October 8th : 5pm – 8.30pm
Archives
8-13th September 2020
Parcours des Mondes 2020
Exhibition
Icons
Ancient Arts of Africa, Oceania and North America
Presse review :
The Art Newspaper, n°22, September 2020
The Art Newspaper Daily, 11 September 2020
La Gazette Drouot, September 2020
L’Echo, Belgium, September 2020
Connaissance des Arts, September 2020
Bilan, Etienne Dumont, September 2020
Archives
11-14 June 2020
Paris event:
VISITONS NOS GALERIES
New event in Paris!
Over 80 galleries in St-Germain-des-Prés are joining forces for a group happening
# Visitons Nos Galeries.
19
Archives
December 2019
Dances with Spirits
Exhibition
Dances with Spirits
Ancient Arts of Oceania, America and Africa
Archives
November 2019
Geometries
Exhibition
Geometries
Ancient Arts of Africa, Oceania & North America
Archives
3rd, October 2019
Katsina
“The Great Tradition of Hopi Katsina Carvers, 1880 to present”
Talk by author Barry Walsh
Book-signing event
Exhibition of kachina dolls