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ITEM NUMBER: AK0057
Northwest Coast Thunderbird Figure
$2,500
Description
Details
Dimensions
Northwest Coast polychrome thunderbird figure. The carved cedar bird figure with two mounted outstretched wings. Carver Frank Smith, unisgned. 25.25" H x 49.75" W x 9.25"
Frank Smith (1919-2006) was a prolific and important Makah artist who created several monumental poles that are still standing in locations across the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas. Smith was an important cultural teacher within his Makah community and is remembered as one of the most important Makah artists of the 20th century. Smith’s work had a distinctive look that combined bold Makah-style formline with naturalistic sculpture, particularly in how he carved human faces. He was fond of red, green, and black paints and sometimes utilized a grey undercoat on his sculpture. Smith’s pieces also regularly featured almond-shaped eyes, large, square, white teeth, and angular wings. This 32” pole is a classic example of Smith’s work and depicts a thunderbird with a face in its chest over an inverted killer whale with an anthropomorphized body. The surface of the pole within the u-forms and ovoids of the formline have also been worked with a knife to replicate the adze marks found on full-sized poles.
PERIOD: Mid 20th CenturyORIGIN: Northwest - Alaskan, Native American
SIZE: 25.25" H x 49.75" W x 9.25"
