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Artworks
JACOB LOUIE (1903-1969) NUU-CHAH-NULTH (MOWACHAHT/MUCHALAHT)
Model Totem Pole, c. 1920s or 1930swood and paint, 13 x 3 x 2 in (33 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm)
unsigned.LOT 27
ESTIMATE: $400 — $600Further images
A prolific Mowachaht/Muchalaht model totem pole carver, Jacob Louie frequently worked for William Webber, the proprietor of the Thunderbird Scenery Shop—a curio store on Granville Street in Vancouver, BC, operational...A prolific Mowachaht/Muchalaht model totem pole carver, Jacob Louie frequently worked for William Webber, the proprietor of the Thunderbird Scenery Shop—a curio store on Granville Street in Vancouver, BC, operational from 1923 to 1952.
Louie's totem poles are celebrated for their detailed craftsmanship and vibrant paintwork, and this work is no exception. At the top, we encounter an eagle that is accented with green, yellow, and red details—including dotted plumage. The bird sits atop an anthropomorphic bear, whose red-dotted fur mirrors the eagle above, his red claws and jet-black arms exuding a sense of strength and vitality. At the bottom is a wolf, its angular teeth highlighted with red, evoking sharp, formidable energy.
Provenance
Private Collection, Vancouver, BC.