I find this miniature sled deeply beautiful, with an elegance of construction and purity of form that feels akin to the pencil box in old blue paint also listed today--small perfect things. It is an early 20th century Inuit model of a qamutiik (or komatik) sled, made for the tourist trade. This type of short flat "mushing" sled, constructed by attaching cross slats to two parallel boards, was used for hunting, and would traditionally have been pulled sled dogs. For me it is very much about the shapes of the slats, each a bit different from the next, one much narrower, and a couple significantly wider, together just right. With a gorgeous warm patina to the dry wood, and great beauty to the wrapping and tying of the ends to the boards, too, with what looks like it may be sinew. It will stand erect, looking rather like a ladder, or flush on its blades as a sled. A very lovely thing.
6 3/4" x 3 1/8" x 1" and in excellent antique condition, first quarter 20th c. I believe.
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