John Michael is a Sitka-based Tlingit carver known for his colourful model poles. Along with fellow Tlingit carvers David Konketah (1871-1925) (see Lot 21) and Charlie Bennett (1882-1949), Michael helped define a distinctive, early-20th century Sitka-style of Tlingit model poles. Michael’s poles feature highly stylized, large heads with wide muzzles, well-defined arms and legs, and monoxylous pedestals. Michael also had a distinctive painting style, using a preponderance of red and splitting the arms and legs of his figures between red and black paints. This fine pair of poles feature an eagle, human-like figure, and bear eating a salmon.

Christopher W. Smith