Traditional Inukshuk Statues are structures made of stone, piled up in such a way that the stones that often form a human shape. Sometimes breathtakingly large, and often quite beautiful, these statues were used by First Nations and Native Inuit people as landmarks, or as commemorations of grand events. In the spirit of these profound structures, artisans have begun creating smaller scale stone statues in the Inukshuk milieu, for use in gardens and back yard spaces. In this article, we look at two Inukshuk Garden Statues currently available for sale.
Traditional Inukshuk Statues
Traditional Inukshuk statues are essentially cairns, or stone piles, marking significant landmarks, be they trails, settlements, or important landmarks. The statues are found all across the North American Arctic, from Alaska, all across northern Canada, and all the way over to Greenland. In these areas, which are mostly tundra, there are relatively few trees and plants to use as totems and markers, and stone was plentiful and weather-proof.
These stone statues served as permanent markers of important locations.
Often the inhabitants of these areas were nomadic, following herds of animals from year to year. These statues were quite helpful in marking important game locations, water sources, fishing areas, etc.
Most Inukshuk statues are not in the shape of a human, but the most iconic statues known around the world are in a human shape.
The word “Inukshuk” is derived from a combination of Inuit words for “human” and “substitute”. A fairly direct translation of Inukshuk is “that which acts in the capacity of a human.”
The 2008 Vancouver Olympics used an Inukshuk statue as an icon of the games, and recognition of these amazing works spread quickly around the globe.
Inukshuk Garden Statues
Stone artisans have begun creating smaller scale Inukshuk garden statues for decorative use in gardens and yard spaces. These statues are generally fastened together in some way that will prevent toppling and are (by necessity) fundamentally different in design than the traditional Inukshuk statues seen in large scale.
Clearwater Cabin Living Inukshuk Statue
The Clearwater Cabin Living Inukshuk yard statue is a beautiful, simple stone cairn, handmade to order by artisans in Idaho. With careful attention to detail and a simple attractive design, the Clearwater Cabin Living Inukshuk statues are guaranteed to be delightful conversation pieces and will bring a great deal of charm to your garden or home.
These statues are made from smooth stones with hidden metal rods inserted through to keep them stable. Each individual stone piece is then glued together to form a stable shape that will survive shipping, and will survive your dog coming over to sniff it in the garden!
Dimensions
- Width: 14.5″
- Depth: 4″
- Height: 10″
The Bottom Line
The Clearwater Cabin Living garden statue is made to order, and each one is an original. These hand-made artisan statues are sure to add a beautiful touch to your garden path, or to your back deck.
Once you place your order, you’ll have to wait 1-2 weeks for the statue to be created and delivered. However, with that wait comes the knowledge that your statue is handmade, and your purchase has supported a local artisan.
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Nephrite Jade Inukshuk Statue
These Inukshuk statues are made of Nephrite Jade, harvested from the Canadian Arctic. These stones are hand carved in China to form the Inukshuk statues, which are then glued together into human forms. Unlike traditional Inukshuk statues, and the Clearwater Cabin Living statues above, these are carved to form a human shape.
The Nephrite Jade material is high quality and is commonly used in jewelry and ceremonial carvings.
Dimensions
There are three size options available for these Inukshuk garden statues. These range from 2″ to 5″ in height, so all are fairly small.
The Bottom Line
These statues are quite small in scale, with the taller one being only 5″. These are appropriate for patio tabletop use, or in a small flower bed as a focal point, but the green coloring and small scale will likely result in these statues being lost in a garden space of any significant size.
They are significantly cheaper than the Clearwater Cabin Living Inukshuk statuettes but are much less useful and interesting as sculpture.
- Canadian Nephrite Jade
- 100% Natural
- Various Sizes
- Hand Carved
Last update on 2025-09-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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