Large Tsimshian Totem Pole

Tsimshian carvers have long been regarded as some of the finest carvers in all of the Northwest Coast, and this carving is a fine example of their work. The pole shows a lot of age and was made sometime in the second half of the 19th century. It’s hard to pinpoint a date beyond that or a type of wood, as the pole’s surface is heavily weathered and covered in wormholes from spending time outside. This large model pole features a bird-like figure with a human face over a Bear. The top figure shows a supernatural being or spirit in mid-transformation between a Human and bird, perhaps depicting Raven. The bear is depicted with a very elegant and expressive face. The delicate nostrils and mouth of the bear and the perfectly executed eyes are reflective of Tsimshian art of this period. The verso of the pole is hollowed out, with a large rectangle of wood removed from the back, likely to protect from splitting as the wood dries and ages. Overall, this is a fine example of 19th century, Northern Northwest Coast art. Please note: The human face of the bird is skillfully carved with excellent proportions, but the eyes and nose do not appear to be complete. The wings are also blank, where they would have perhaps had formline designs carved into them. The legs, hands, and feet of the bear look similarly unfinished. There are a lot of reasons why this could be the case, but most often it was because someone wanted to buy the carving while they were visiting the Northwest Coast and the carver was not finished with the piece. In those instances, the artist would often finish the most crucial features, like the face of the Bear, and sell the carving to the visitor as-is. In this case, it is just an interesting feature of the life of this fine totem pole. From an important Vancouver, BC collection. 43"H x 9"W

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