Featured Inuit Soapstone Carving Help Please

Hi All,
At first I thought this was a duck, but now I don't think so, just not sure what it is? Also, does this look like soapstone? Has some markings on the bottom that I can't quite make out - I can see 558 and maybe Ped?
any information appreciated
thanks for looking

 

#s 855 & ?

 

Think maybe serpentine

 

Inuit letters on the bottom , but the label remains are hindering my accurate identification ........
it's a bird................... nuff said..

@Mark London

 

Looks more like a cormorant to me, but their range does not seem to extend into the great white north.

 

I don’t know for sure,but it looks similar to others when searching. Also this previous thread is of interest. Looks very similar to yours in overall design
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/inuit-bird-carving-in-green-stone.47204/

 

Agree it does look like a cormorant or maybe then just some other sea bird.

 

Yes, soapstone. A variety called steatite used by many tribes for carving.

 

thanks for all the replies folks

thanks for the link Boland I did the scratch test that was mentioned in the other post, no 'talc' or marks when scratched with a fingernail, thank-you Charlie, I think it is Serpentine.

lol, bird works for me

thank-you Gus will see what I can find on Steatite

 

It is not serpentine. Steatite would be a better descriptor.

While the signature is rather illegible, the second line of text reads Naujat which is the Inuit name for Repulse Bay. While there are a fair number of "listed" artists from the community one must realize that at some point pretty much everyone tried their hand at sculpture so many artists names are not recorded.

 

great information, thanks Mark