Squamish/Salish Totem by Harry Moody

Squamish/Coast Salish totem pole by Harry Moody (1877-1962). Circa 1950. 5"W x 16"H Harry Moody was a renowned Squamish canoe maker who also created model totem poles for sale in the first half of the 20th century. Moody was the lead carver on a canoe called the “Capilano Warrior,” a 50-foot dugout racing canoe that was carved from a 55-foot log. According to North Shore News (North Vancouver), Moody “worked as a longshoreman, was a master builder and worked with and mentored canoe families amongst the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw.” As a cultural leader, Moody was an important figure in the revitalization of Squamish and Coast Salish canoe making and one of the relatively few Coast Salish carvers producing model poles in the first half of the 20th century. As noted on the back in pencil, this model pole features: Thunderbird with spread wings, Snowy Owl, Medicine Man with Man Child, and a Frog. The pole is mounted on a green chamfered base and painted in black, green, red, and yellow formline and figurative elements. Unlike many other poles from this same period that relied heavily on painting alone to delineate forms, this pole is actually quite well-carved, with careful and sensitive renderings of the Human faces. Another nice touch on this pole are the individually pegged-in wings.