{"product_id":"lummi-joseph-joe-hillaire-multifigure-pole-made-at-seattle-world-s-fair-am1758","title":"Lummi Joseph “Joe” Hillaire Multifigure Pole Made at Seattle World’s Fair","description":"Joseph “Joe” Hillaire (Lummi, 1894-1967) Large Multifigure Pole Made at Seattle World’s Fair (1962) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis large model pole by legendary Lummi carver Joe Hillaire is an important piece of Northwest Coast art and Seattle history. This huge model, which stands a staggering seven feet and nine inches tall, was made by Hillaire during his time as a demonstration carver at the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe pole comes with a handwritten note that reads: \u003cbr\u003eThis totem pole was made by Joseph Hilare [sic], a \u003cbr\u003eLummi Indian famous for \u003cbr\u003ehis totem poles\u003cbr\u003eThis pole was one of the\u003cbr\u003e poles displayed at the\u003cbr\u003eSeattle World Fair in 1962\u003cbr\u003eDr. JH Hall purchased the\u003cbr\u003epole from Joseph Hilare [sic] shortly \u003cbr\u003eafter this. He died shortly\u003cbr\u003elater\u003cbr\u003eMr Hilair [sic] said the pole\u003cbr\u003erepresented an old legend \u003cbr\u003e“An old man on a rock \u003cbr\u003ec̄ [sic] a Snipe + an indian on top\u003cbr\u003ea serpent comes up + \u003cbr\u003ethe eagle watch [sic] over all [sic].”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eArchival research corroborates the claim in the note that this pole was made during the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962. In fact, this pole can be seen, in the process of completion, at the World’s Fair where Hillaire was carving totems in a photo in the University of Washington Library Archives. [1] \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe photo shows a crowd of Indigenous people, some in Plains or Plateau regalia, seated in front of the carving trailer with then-US Secretary of the Interior, Stewart Udall (1920-2010), listening to Joe Hillaire speak (in button robe, holding drum). Behind Udall and the gentleman in Plains regalia is an open swinging door that reads “Indian Totem Pole Carvers \/ Seattle World’s Fair” with several totem poles hanging on the front of the structure. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis pole is shown, unfinished, just behind the headdress of the seated gentleman next to Udall. Although the pole has not yet been painted or had the wings added, the Eagle, Serpent, Spirit Dancer, and top half of the Woodcock are plainly discernible. Additional research revealed that Udall visited Hillaire and the World’s Fair on March 30, 1962, so we can get very precise with the creation date of this pole to sometime during March or April 1962. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHillaire was one of the few named Coast Salish carvers who was producing artwork in the first half of the 20th century. A Lummi artist from the Northwest corner of Washington State, Hillaire was a very public facing artist and educator who produced totem poles and canoes while engaging with and teaching the public about Indigenous cultures and ways of life. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe is perhaps best-known today for his time demonstrating carving at the 1962 World’s Fair and for the monumental poles that he created for Suquamish, Washington, and Kobe, Japan, while there. This pole’s connection to that time and event make it an important historical document. Much of this specific history and Hillaire’s life have been documented and published by his daughter, Pauline Hillaire, in the 2013 book “A Totem Pole History: The Work of Lummi Carver Joe Hillaire,” which will be included with the pole.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. “Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall watching Native American totem pole carver Joseph Hillaire speak at the Century 21 World's Fair Exposition, Seattle, Washington, 1962.” 1962. University Libraries at the University of Washington. https:\/\/digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu\/digital\/collection\/social\/id\/5838\/rec\/17. Accessed October 29, 2026.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a large or fragile item, so shipping will not calculate on our website. Please contact the Gallery at (208) 769-7575; info@ciscosgallery.com to get a shipping quote, or to purchase.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont color=\"#989898\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePERIOD: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/font\u003eMid 20th Century\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont color=\"#989898\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eORIGIN: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/font\u003eUnknown, Native American\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont color=\"#989898\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSIZE:   \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e 7'6\"H x 35\" wingspan\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ciscos","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":68196054204666,"sku":"AM1758","price":50000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0571\/3405\/files\/AM1758-1.jpg?v=1794505669","url":"https:\/\/ciscosgallery.com\/products\/lummi-joseph-joe-hillaire-multifigure-pole-made-at-seattle-world-s-fair-am1758","provider":"Cisco's Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}