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ITEM NUMBER: AF0246
Matched Pair Monumental Coast Salish Thunderbird Totems
$40,000
Description
Details
Dimensions
Matched Pair Monumental Coast Salish Thunderbird totem poles. 104"H x 82"W, 107"H x 91"W
Most Coast Salish communities did not historically make or display free-standing monumental totem poles like the Northern Tlingit, Haida, or Tsimshian did. However, this began to change as more tourists and other visitors came to the Northwest Coast in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with many starting (and ending) their journeys north in cities on Coast Salish land, such as Seattle, Vancouver, or Victoria.
The theft of a monumental totem pole from the Tlingit people in Southeast Alaska and its subsequent installation in Pioneer Square, in downtown Seattle in 1899, further cemented the image of free-standing, multifigure totem poles as symbols of the Northwest Coast and Alaska.
[1] In the public’s imagination, these cities became “gateways to the north.” To meet the demand for the totem pole craze that followed, curio shops such as the Ye Olde Curiosity Shop in Seattle, Henry Stadthagen’s Indian Trader store in Victoria, and William Webber’s Thunderbird/Scenery Shop in Vancouver (a bit later) hired local Coast Salish and Nuu-chah-nulth artists to create model replicas of famous monumental totems from Alaska and Northern British Columbia.
Soon, totem poles were not only the main symbols of the region and these cities, but symbols of Native peoples themselves, even the Coast Salish Nations. In short, totem poles came to represent “Indian-ness” in the Pacific Northwest in the popular imagination. Across the 20th century, Coast Salish artists often learned and produced Northern-influenced works to sell to collectors and visitors. [2]
This brings us to this pair of monumental Coast Salish Thunderbird Poles. These poles measure between eight and a half and nine feet tall, respectively, placing them firmly in the “monumental” category. Their general design, of a Thunderbird with spread wings over a seated Bear, is an iconic configuration based on a pair of historic totems by Kwakwaka’wakw artist Charlie James (1867-1937), modern iterations of which now stand at Stanley Park in Vancouver.
The poles each feature the same imagery: Thunderbird, Human Face, and Bear with a Frog emerging from its mouth. The poles are carved in a general “Northern” style and utilize u-forms and ovoids as the primary design elements. The main surface of each pole is unpainted, with a reserved palette of red and black used to highlight eyes, horns, ears, eyebrows, mouths, wings, and formline components. The wings are composed of ovoids at their bases and two rows of u-forms to indicate feathers.
The surfaces of the poles are weathered from having been outside but are otherwise in good condition. The back of one of the poles has been hollowed out and one Thunderbird is missing a horn, but these are pegged in and can be replaced if the collector so desires.
1. Wright, Robin K. How did totem poles become a symbol of Seattle? Burke Museum. November 19, 2015. https://www.burkemuseum.org/news/how-did-totem-poles-become-symbol-seattle. Accessed August 18, 2026.
2. It should be noted that in the last several decades, many Coast Salish artists have rejected more Northern designs and influence and revived customary, historic Coast Salish forms and styles across their territories.
This 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.
Most Coast Salish communities did not historically make or display free-standing monumental totem poles like the Northern Tlingit, Haida, or Tsimshian did. However, this began to change as more tourists and other visitors came to the Northwest Coast in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with many starting (and ending) their journeys north in cities on Coast Salish land, such as Seattle, Vancouver, or Victoria.
The theft of a monumental totem pole from the Tlingit people in Southeast Alaska and its subsequent installation in Pioneer Square, in downtown Seattle in 1899, further cemented the image of free-standing, multifigure totem poles as symbols of the Northwest Coast and Alaska.
[1] In the public’s imagination, these cities became “gateways to the north.” To meet the demand for the totem pole craze that followed, curio shops such as the Ye Olde Curiosity Shop in Seattle, Henry Stadthagen’s Indian Trader store in Victoria, and William Webber’s Thunderbird/Scenery Shop in Vancouver (a bit later) hired local Coast Salish and Nuu-chah-nulth artists to create model replicas of famous monumental totems from Alaska and Northern British Columbia.
Soon, totem poles were not only the main symbols of the region and these cities, but symbols of Native peoples themselves, even the Coast Salish Nations. In short, totem poles came to represent “Indian-ness” in the Pacific Northwest in the popular imagination. Across the 20th century, Coast Salish artists often learned and produced Northern-influenced works to sell to collectors and visitors. [2]
This brings us to this pair of monumental Coast Salish Thunderbird Poles. These poles measure between eight and a half and nine feet tall, respectively, placing them firmly in the “monumental” category. Their general design, of a Thunderbird with spread wings over a seated Bear, is an iconic configuration based on a pair of historic totems by Kwakwaka’wakw artist Charlie James (1867-1937), modern iterations of which now stand at Stanley Park in Vancouver.
The poles each feature the same imagery: Thunderbird, Human Face, and Bear with a Frog emerging from its mouth. The poles are carved in a general “Northern” style and utilize u-forms and ovoids as the primary design elements. The main surface of each pole is unpainted, with a reserved palette of red and black used to highlight eyes, horns, ears, eyebrows, mouths, wings, and formline components. The wings are composed of ovoids at their bases and two rows of u-forms to indicate feathers.
The surfaces of the poles are weathered from having been outside but are otherwise in good condition. The back of one of the poles has been hollowed out and one Thunderbird is missing a horn, but these are pegged in and can be replaced if the collector so desires.
1. Wright, Robin K. How did totem poles become a symbol of Seattle? Burke Museum. November 19, 2015. https://www.burkemuseum.org/news/how-did-totem-poles-become-symbol-seattle. Accessed August 18, 2026.
2. It should be noted that in the last several decades, many Coast Salish artists have rejected more Northern designs and influence and revived customary, historic Coast Salish forms and styles across their territories.
This 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.
PERIOD: UnknownORIGIN: Plateau - Salish, Native American
SIZE: 104"H x 82"W, 107"H x 91"W
