Mowachaht/Nuu-chah-nulth Totem

Mowachaht/Nuu-chah-nulth “Seattle Pole” from Ye Olde Curiosity Shop. This is a clean, bright model of the iconic “Seattle Totem” that stands in Pioneer Square in Seattle, WA. It was carved by a member of the Amos family, who carved for Ye Olde Curiosity Shop in the first half of the 20th century. The Amos family is known for fine finishing and bright, colorful painting. This model dates to the 1940s or perhaps up to 1950. The original, full-sized pole was Tlingit in origin and belonged to the Tongass people, near the US-Canadian border in Southeastern Alaska. It was stolen by a group of vacationing Seattle businessman in 1899 and “gifted” to the city of Seattle, which installed it in Pioneer Square. The original pole gifted to the city was damaged by arson in 1938 and replaced in 1940 by Tlingit carvers working for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Fun fact: Although totem poles have become a symbol of the City of Seattle, the Indigenous Salish people of Puget Sound did not historically carve multi-figure, free standing monumental poles. The Seattle Totem was the first documented totem pole to be raised in Puget Sound territory. On the back marked "Real Indian Made From Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, Seattle, Washington." 13"