This pole is a bit of a puzzle, appearing to be constructed out of the work of two distinct, but well-known, model totem pole carvers from the 20th century. Philip Nelson was the son of famed Quatsino carver George Nelson (1884-1969). Both men were prolific makers who carved and painted their poles in very similar styles, although the younger Nelson’s totems tended to be more gracile than his father’s. Jimmy John was a Nuu-chah-nulth artist who created objects for sale and community usage for the better part of a century, best known for his later “chip-carving style” and a restrained palette of black and red paint.

It's always interesting to try to understand the lives of objects and how they have circulated or existed in the world. This pole has been modified in two important ways since its creation: 1) it has been repainted, and 2) the wings from another artist have been added to replace the originals. The pole itself was carved by Philip Nelson and features an Eagle over a Bear that is holding a Salmon. The wings of the pole, which were added later, were carved and painted by Jimmy John, exhibiting his distinctive chip carving style (note the crescent shapes along the top of the wings) and lozenge-shaped black and red ovoids. The ground of the pole has been repainted all black, although the designs painted in red, orange, and white pretty closely mirror Nelson’s style. In sum, the modifications on this pole transform it into something else more akin to an assemblage art piece or folk-art.

Christopher W. Smith