ELI TAIT (1872-1949) TSIMSHIAN, METLAKATLA, ALASKA
inscribed by the artist, "Good Luck / Totem / Eagle / Salmon / Bear / Boy";
signed and inscribed, "Eli Tait / Metlakatla / Alaska".
ESTIMATE: $1,500 — $2,500
The "Good Luck" pole, probably designed by Eli Tait, illustrates the Tsimshian story of "Little Eagle," or "The Boy Who Fed the Eagles" [1]. Having given away his winter salmon stores to eagles, a young man is abandoned during a famine, only to be saved by the grateful birds, whose generosity brings him prosperity and the Eagle as a family crest. This particular example is especially charming for the touches of soft blue surrounding the eyes of the bear and bird, lending a playful sweetness to their finely carved features.
1. Credit for identifying the connection between the "Good Luck" model poles and the story of "Little Eagle" belongs to Steve Akerman, a collector and researcher who has devoted decades to studying Alaskan Tsimshian model pole carvers. See http://bluemando.homestead.com/Story.html, accessed 10 Oct 2026.
FA
Provenance
Maynards Fine Art, Richmond, BC, 10 Oct 2025, Lot 85;Acquired from the above by the present Private Collection, Toronto.
Join Our Mailing List
Join our mailing list
* denotes required fields
We will process the personal data you have supplied in accordance with our privacy policy (available on request). You can unsubscribe or change your preferences at any time by clicking the link in our emails.