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Artworks
UNIDENTIFIED HAIDA ARTIST
Model Totem Pole , c. 1960argillite, 10 x 1.5 x 2.25 in (25.4 x 3.8 x 5.7 cm)
unsigned.LOT 70
ESTIMATE: $4,000 — $6,000Further images
This finely carved argillite pole features a dynamic sequence of figures: a bear, raven, frog, Waasgo or bear, and an inverted human head. The composition closely mirrors that of a...This finely carved argillite pole features a dynamic sequence of figures: a bear, raven, frog, Waasgo or bear, and an inverted human head. The composition closely mirrors that of a renowned wood pole by Haida artist Zacherias Nicolas (1861–d.), once held in the private collection of Bill Reid (1920-1998) and now housed in the Bill Reid Gallery. During the 1960s, that original pole was featured on a widely circulated poster showing it from two angles, making it a popular reference for contemporary Indigenous carvers. It is likely that the present work was inspired by that image, reinterpreted in argillite by a skilled but unidentified Haida artist. The crisp transitions between figures, the harmony of rounded and incised forms, and the uninterrupted rhythm of the composition all speak to the artist’s fluency with the material. The work showcases not only technical precision but also a confident sculptural hand.
First Arts with Christopher W. SmithProvenance
A Vancouver Collection.
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