Northwest Coast Eagle Totem

Large Northwest Coast eagle totem pole, circa 1930, 19"H, base 5" x 5". This massive model pole is carved and painted in an eccentric and deeply idiosyncratic style and likely dates to the 1930s. The top figure is an Eagle, carved with ear tufts and posed in a typical passive hunting pose. The figures below the Eagle are harder to interpret, but they may represent an anthropomorphic bird of some kind, a Wolf, and nestling bird or insect. While the carving style is highly individualistic, the shape of the eyes and the structure and design organization of the wings of the Eagle suggest that this pole is Nuu-chah-nulth or Coast Salish in manufacture and originates on Vancouver Island. The paint is older and crazed in some areas, with the color palette pointing to a 1930s date of production. The pole is mounted on a beveled base.