A Northwest Coast bentwood lidded box
Of rectangular form, the slightly tapering lid with opercula shell inlay on two ends, the body painted with formline animal faces on two sides in red and black and red bird tracks on one side.
height 27 1/2in, width 20 1/2in
Footnotes:
Provenance
Jack Curtright, Tacoma, WA
Gene Zema, Seattle, WA, acquired from the above March 14, 1994

Illustrated
The present lot can be seen as it was displayed in several views of the interior of the collector's Whidbey Island home: Hildebrand, Grant, Gene Zema: Architect, Craftsman, 2011, University of Washington Press, Seattle, WA, p. 120, fig. 8.32, p. 121. fig. 8.33

Gene K. Zema

Born on September 2, 1926, Gene grew up on a farm in California in the Sacramento Valley. He came to the University of Washington as an engineering student in 1944. He then served in the Navy during World War II, and upon returning to the University of Washington, changed programs and joined the Department of Architecture. He graduated from UW in 1950 with his Bachelor of Architecture degree.

While practicing as an architect, Gene increasingly became interested in regional indigenous art from the Pacific Northwest. He collected many Northwest coastal indigenous pieces and created large murals with Kwakiutl motifs. This interest was one he would pursue the rest of his life, incorporating many of these elements into his projects. Among his many architectural creations was the mid-50s home designed for distinguished scholar and authority on indigenous Pacific Northwest Coast art, Bill Holm. Partial payment for Gene's architectural fee was a totem pole, carved by Holm. In fact, Gene incorporated much of the Seattle area and Pacific Northwest into all aspects of his designs and builds, a monument to the area, history, and people of the region. His collection of Northwest Native American art remained one of his proudest accomplishments.

Scuffs, scratches, nicks, evidence of old insect activity and chips and losses to edges commensurate with age. Darkening to the wood throughout, with more darkening to the lid. An approximately 2in x 1in loss to the underside edge of lid on one side. Chipped losses to the rim of the box throughout. An approximately 2in wide loss to the base along one edge running the length of the body. Some more shallow abrasions/losses to the face of the box just above this loss measuring about 6in x 2in. An approximately 1in-wide hole in the upper corner of one painted face. A couple of shrinkage cracks to base. Some minor separation at joints.