Featured Soapstone carvings

Hello!

Today I ran into these two carvings that looked different from those 'Boma' or 'Wolf Originals' that I see every so often (and pass right on by) ... these actually appear to be carved from real stone. Please correct me if not I'm happy to learn from my mistakes.

Looks like a person and a ???? bird? (I'm going to refer to it as a bird for now) About 3" and 2½" tall (7.5 cm and 6 cm)
The bird has a name and number scratched into its base. I see JOAN?E? 2160?? plus what I think is the igloo symbol (or a copyright symbol)

Am I correct that these are Inuit carvings?
Does anyone see anything else ... other than what I see?

The person figure may also have something scratched into the base, but the felt is hiding what it is.

Should I try to remove the felt? If so, how to do this without staining or scratching the stone?

Thanks for looking!

 

I think its a seal,and I think I see "joanne" on the eskimo figure.

 

Thanks johnny!
I guess that's another possibility ... although it has a very beak-like nose. Years ago, I remember someone posted a similar carving and there were many posts on whether theirs was a bird or a seal. Not sure what the outcome on that one was ... anyone else remember the thread?
It does look like 2 n's in the photo ... in person, with a loupe, it looks like one stretched out n and maybe two very faint s's after the E.
Still not sure.
The non-human has 2 pieces of felt and the human has 4.

 

So, can you soak the bases in warm water and maybe it will release the sticky on the green felt......if it IS stone, them maybe a wee bit of alcohol would take the felt off too............. I also thought I saw Joanne E......get the felt off, maybe it will help.....

 

The bird I dismiss...the man on the other hand may be older and has some soul !!

Lets see what @Mark London has to say !!
Do not scratch the felt off......these Inuit soapstone carving are so easy to mark....and loose the carvers name or number....

 

Thanks komokwa
How about soaking in warm water as @Aquitaine suggests? I was going to try this in the morning ... but won't if it could possibly cause harm.

Are you dismissing the 'bird' as an actual Inuit carving? ... or as a carving at all?
The little guy looked so familiar to me the way he has his head tilted ... I just figured out why

 

Thank you for that suggestion, Aquitaine.
I want to try this in the morning ... at least the water part.

 

No , it's Inuit alright....but it's lackluster ....crude, & too simple for my taste...& the copyright symbol shows it doesn't have much age.

In the 70's, everyone put green felt on the bottom of these carvings, so they wouldn't scratch the furniture...
I don't know the best way to get it off.......& what's there looks like it wants to stay there !!!

 

I think he is perhaps crude Oopik (arctic snowy owl) used as symbol of Canadian government in 60's

 

Scratch the second "E" that I thought I saw.......only one I think......

 

Both are Inuit but neither is of particular importance. You can use lacquer thinner or acetone to remove the labels and perhaps uncover more of the signatures.

 

Thank you, Mr. London, I'll give this a try today.

 

@johnnycb09 , @Aquitaine , @komokwa , @bobsyouruncle , and @Mark London
Thank you all for reading my post and offering both help and opinions on my little carvings

 

You are most welcome !