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Native American, North America, Northwest Coast, probably Haida, Tlingit, or Coast Salish, ca. 1930s CE. A splendid and sizeable totem pole of a lengthy, trapezoidal form with a wide base and narrow top, hand-carved with zoomorphic motifs and hand-painted in vibrant hues of black, white, red, blue, and yellow. The fascinating sculpture displays a complex decorative program of several animals who seemingly share different parts of their bodies. At the bottom is a beaver presenting an anthropomorphic visage with huge eyes beneath arched brows, a bulbous nose, cheeks adorned with face paint, and full lips held closed. The fascinating animal grasps a fish in each hand, both facing downward as a pair of disembodied, circular heads sit atop their tails. A raven or thunderbird is featured above, its body made up of the beaver's head and flanked by a pair of spread wings. Its head is dominated by a lengthy, straight beak, which juts outwards just below its almond-shaped eyes and square ears. Size: 23" L x 8.7" W x 66" H (58.4 cm x 22.1 cm x 167.6 cm)

Each wing is embellished by another zoomorphic visage resembling a bear. A third disembodied head sits between the bird's ears. The impressive sculpture is then capped by the figure of an eagle carved in the round with spread wings.

Indigenous people from coastal northwest America to Canada created zoomorphic and anamorphic carvings, totem poles, as standalone columns, or to support larger architectural structures. Totem poles are used to welcome visitors, commemorate the dead or important events, and to even shame people that have offended the tribe. Originally only elite members commissioned totem poles, as these massive pieces were quite an undertaking to carve, and sometimes took between six months to a year to complete! The exact narrative or symbolic meaning the totems conveyed was often known exclusively to the tribe to which it belonged through oral tradition. The animals depicted were often easily identified across tribes, and therefore information could be gathered, even if the person was unable to interpret the full meaning of the totem. The creation of totem poles became highly popularized and more accessible in the early to mid-19th century when the native cultures gained new metal tools and wealth from the fur trade with the European settlers. Most wood totems do not last more than a hundred years in the moist northwest coastal climate, but this totem has impressively retained its striking features.

This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.

Provenance: ex-private Alamo, California, USA collection, before 2000

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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#168063

Eagle at top is loose and can be detached. Loosening to beak. Expected nicks, abrasions, and scratches throughout, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with nice remaining pigments.