Lot 1
Unidentified Haida Artist
Lot 1 Details
Unidentified Haida Artist
MODEL TOTEM POLE, CA. 1890
wood, paint
accompanied by a photocopy of a letter, and later typed transcript of the same, pertaining to the shipping of the model pole from Saskatoon to Ontario in 1925
37.75 x 6 x 4.75 in — 95.9 x 15.2 x 12.1 cm
Estimate $8,000-$10,000
Additional Images
Provenance:
Collected in British Columbia ca. 1890s
By descent to the present Private Collection, Gravenhurst, ON
Note:
A large and important model totem pole by an unidentified Haida artist dating circa 1890. The pole is topped by the figure of a high cast female shaman carved in the round. Her gender and status is made apparent by a protruding labret in her lower lip. Her shamanic office is indicated by her feather crown, and the two circular puffin beak rattles clasped tightly to her body. Below her is a killer whale, and bear clutching a small humanoid figure. The latter motif is associated with the Haida story of the Bear Mother, who was taken as a wife by a grizzly bear and bore two semi-supernatural children. The depiction of the Bear Mother story is one of the most popular thematic subjects in Haida wooden totem poles.
The overall design of the model pole is emphasised with paint from red ochre, black soot, and likely celadonite or vivianite blue-green pigments.
The pole is reputed to have been collected by a missionary relative of the consignor working in British Columbia circa 1890s.
Further Reading:
https://www.waddingtons.ca/art-of-the-model-totem-pole/