Model totem pole
Artist
Northwest Coast
Artist
Haida
Datelate 19th century
MediumStone - argilite
ClassificationsVisual Works
Credit LineGift of Katherine Wolcott
Object number1937.2.48
DescriptionA miniature totem pole. The bottom figure is a seated animal, probably a bear, with large round eyes of inlaid abalone shell. Above the bear is a whale which is bent forward with its tail in its mouth. The whale also has large round eyes of inlaid shell. Above the whale is a bird which is either a Thunderbird or an Eagle. It has half open wings and inlaid shell eyes. The bear's fur is indicated by scratches in the surface, the bird's feathers by gouges in the argillite and incised drawing. The bird is carved in the round, unlike the bear and whale, which have flat backs. The base has short diagonal grooves around it. The argillite piece has been glued to a small block of wood which has been painted black.On View
Not on viewCollections
Solomon Islands
After 1844