The Canadian Guild of Crafts permanent collection includes more than
450 items:
· Engravings
· Inuit and Amerindian sculptures and artefacts
· Canadian crafts
All works are authenticated and each one of them represents a national treasure.
The Guild’s permanent collection is of priceless ethnological value to everyone-art lovers,
students, collectors, historians, researchers, as well as future generations. Approximately 250 works of Inuit art are currently on display at the gallery on the second floor, while the rest of the collection is stored and indexed. These pieces of art include:
· Sculpted walrus ivory tusks
· Stone sculptures
· Stone cookware
· Spearheads
· Engravings
· Finely worked household and handicraft items
The Guild has been acquiring Inuit art since the early 1900’s. The vast majority of the collection is comprised of Inuit
sculptures created between 1950 and 1965. The most frequently represented regions are Cape
Dorset, Inukjuak and Povungnituk. Through its choice of sculptures and objects,
the Guild has demonstrated its great interest in native culture, and has favoured representations of the traditional way of life rather than purely
decorative or abstract artistic approaches.
“CANADIAN GUILD OF CRAFTS – PERMANENT COLLECTION CATALOGUE”
This catalogue can be purchased on site.
(available in French or English)
Video
A video of the collection can be viewed on site.
The Canadian Guild of Crafts permanent collection is an invaluable source for anyone interested in the history of Inuit and art of the First Nations.
There are collections one raves about, or that some rave
about, and there are those everyone should know about regardless of ravings.
The Canadian Guild of Crafts collection earns the raves indeed, and all
concerned with Canadian Inuit art should be familiar with it. It is a
thoroughly enjoyable experience because in part, so many artists are
represented.
The range of places, the time span, the variety of media and topics increase
the merit of this collection in which distinctive pieces abound. Especially
attractive are the small and earlier pieces which delight one, capture the
eye and provoke thoughts of the culture, the attitudes, the thinking that
produced these sculptures. It all comes from the mind and hand of the Inuit.
The collection totals a refreshing review of recent Inuit art constitutes a
distinguished tribute and an elegant witness to a remarkable people.
William E. Taylor fils
Director
National Museum of Man
Ottawa
