Bidspirit auction | A carved soapstone figure of

A carved soapstone figure of a fisherman, 20th century - This figure is carved from soapstone in a light celadon green hue, featuring areas of grayish-white and occasional dark natural inclusions. The sculpture depicts a smiling man, traditionally identified in folk art as a fisherman or a representation of longevity. He is rendered in a dynamic standing pose, holding a fish in his right hand and a tall staff in his left. A large conical hat is slung across his back, alongside two woven baskets. The carving is executed in the round with significant undercutting to define the staff, limbs, and accessories. The figure stands upon an integral rocky-style base.The sculpture is mounted on a dark brown hardwood stand featuring stylized openwork and pierced foliate motifs. The underside of the wooden stand is rough-hewn and unfinished. A series of characters are incised into the bottom rim of the wooden base: ”9”, ”1”, ”1”, followed by the Roman numeral ”IV”. These appear to be inventory or collection markings rather than a maker's signature.Height: 8 1/2 inches (including stand)Width: 3 1/4 inches (at widest point of the base).