Model poles by Gitxsan and upriver Tsimshian artists are often carved in alder or maple wood, rather than in yellow or red cedar, as is common on the coast. Besides being more readily available to carvers from this region, the harder, denser wood allows for more detailed facial features, hands, and feet to be carved on their model poles. These Gitxsan and neighbouring Tsimshian model poles tended to be carved (at least partially) in high relief from a back panel and were usually sparsely painted in black or occasionally in black and burgundy. [1] In many ways, model poles made at the Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Art in the last quarter of the 20th century preserved this preference for hardwood and sparse paint.

This larger model pole is a fine example of upper Skeena River carving. True to the description above, the pole is carved in alder and conservatively painted in only black pigment. It features two Bear Cubs above a male humanoid Shark figure. The top Bear Cub appears to be lying on its back and grasping its hind feet, while the descending central figure has contorted limbs terminating in human-like hands that may represent some kind of transformation. Similar to the examples at the MOA (especially 3051/17 and 3051/18), the top two figures on this pole emerge in high relief from a column or panel structure and are painted in an "x-ray" style with their ribs exposed. The bottom figure can be identified as a Shark by its large cowl, gill slits on its forehead and cheeks, and moustache with fin-like upturned tips.

1. Please see catalogue numbers 3051/16, 3051/17, and 3051/18 in the Museum of Anthropology at UBC and AA 573 in the Museum of Vancouver for comparable works that also demonstrate these attributes.

CWS