RUFUS MOODY, C.M. (1923-1998) SKIDEGATE, B.C.
Model Mortuary Pole, late 1960s or early 1970s
argillite, antler, and abalone, 36.125 x 8.5 x 8.5 in (91.6 x 21.5 x 21.5 cm
signed, "Rufus Moody".

Provenance
Important Private Collection, Canada.

This pole is of different proportions than many others. Narrow from side to side, the sculpture is deeper from front to back than it is wide. It falls into the large category, at just over three feet tall. It represents a type of monument known as a mortuary pole, wherein a cavity in the back of the pole held the mummified remains of the deceased behind the painted and carved horizontal planks at the top. The image represented on the top piece has a three-dimensional face with the recurved beak of a thunderbird, and formline wings and feet out to each side. Above and below the thunderbird image are plain, uncarved horizontal planks representing the top and bottom of a classic old-time Northwest Coast chest. Below that is the image of a mountain goat with horns, made of antler, pointing up in front of the thunderbird, seated on the head of what appears to be a bear, with a frog held against its front facing downward. That figure is seated between the ears of a large bird, appearing to be a raven with its beak turned down over its breast, wings folded to each side, and a human face in place of an upturned tail. All four main figures have abalone-shell inlaid eyes, and the square base has curiously tipped-down corners that help prevent them becoming chipped. The rear of the pole is lightly hollowed out to reduce overall weight.

Steven C. Brown

Born in Skidegate in 1923 into the Tanu Wolf Clan, Rufus Moody was the son of Arthur Moody (1885-1967) and the grandson of Thomas Moody (c. 1872-1947). Both of these men were famous argillite carvers and are discussed in Marius Barbeau’s 1957 book Haida Carvers in Argillite. Rufus was a prolific carver but is also renowned for having created the tallest argillite totem pole in the world: The Weeping Pole of Tanu measures over six feet tall, recounts six stories, and is displayed in the UBC Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver. Rufus Moody received the Order of Canada in 1976 for his achievements as an artist and for his efforts to train young people to carve.

References: Model poles and other argillite works can be found in the collections of the National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian Museum of History, the UBC Museum of Anthropology, the Haida Gwaii Museum in Skidegate, the Museum of Vancouver, and the Burke Museum in Seattle. For a small model pole by the artist see Carol Sheehan, Pipes That Won’t Smoke; Coal That Won’t Burn: Haida Sculpture in Argillite, (Calgary: Glenbow Museum, 1981), cat. 126, p. 182. For a mortuary pole carved by Rufus Moody’s nephew Alfred Collinson (1951-) see ibid., cat. 175, pp. 198-199.