Northwest Coast Nuu-chah-nulth Totem

Northwest Coast Nuu-chah-Nulth two-figure totem pole. A two-figure model pole that features a Raven over an inverted Killer Whale. This pole features a stamp from The Thunderbird/Scenery Shop and a paper clipping describing Tsimshian poles and crests. William Webber was a curio dealer who owned and operated The Thunderbird/Scenery Shop on Granville Street in Vancouver between the years 1923 and 1953. Although Webber employed some of the finest carvers on the Northwest Coast during this time, he often added labels and notes onto the objects he that misidentified them as Haida or Tsimshian, perhaps believing that this would appeal more to his customers. This is the case with this model pole. Although this pole is identified by the paper clipping as Tsimshian, it is clearly the work of a Nuu-chah-nulth artist. Webber’s collection of objects and his archives are now held in the Museum of Vancouver. The label on verso reads “The top figure in this pole is the Eagle, bearing on his breast a painted likeness of the Tsimshian Indians of Naas River, BC. The figure below represents the Whale, which has a face carved upon its body, symbolical of the mythological stealing of the moon from the Creator. The Tsimshian Indians have a legend telling how an Indian boy, instead of drying all the salmon he caught, for future use, he would leave them on the beach as food for the eagles. A time came when the tribe was on the verge of starvation, and the boy was left to starve by his fellows because of the fish he had neglected to dry, but the eagles, remembering his kindness, came to his aid and brought him each day large supplies of salmon. He took them to the chief’s daughter, whom he married. Another legend about the whale tells how the whale swallowed the Raven, the Creator, who being enraged at the insult compelled the whale to swim to shore, where it dies. Indians passing the dead whale heard the Raven singing inside, and ripping the carcass open released him, after which a great feast was held off the body. The Indian also believed that when he was drowned at sea, he was reincarnated as a whale. Copyright by the Scenery Shop. Vancouver, BC.” 12 1/2"