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Artworks
LOUIS COLLINSON (1881-1970) SKIDEGATE, HAIDA GWAII
Model Totem Pole, c. 1920sargillite, 8.25 x 2.25 x 2.5 in (21 x 5.7 x 6.3 cm)
unsigned.LOT 18
ESTIMATE: $1,500 — $2,500Further images
This powerful argillite pole showcases masterful design, rich detail, and the storytelling strength of Haida tradition. Collinson (also recorded as Lewis Collinson or Collison) was known for his carvings in...This powerful argillite pole showcases masterful design, rich detail, and the storytelling strength of Haida tradition. Collinson (also recorded as Lewis Collinson or Collison) was known for his carvings in both wood and argillite as well as his fine silver work. [1] There is a nearly identical pole by Collinson in the collection of the Museum of Vancouver (AA 1) that was featured in the exhibit Haida Now: A Visual Feast of Innovation and Tradition (March 16, 2018 - August 2, 2021), and another very similar pole in the collection of the Museum of Anthropology at UBC (1730/10).
The pole recounts the Haida story of the Lazy-Son-In-Law, and features, from the top: Bear, a Whale biting its flukes, a Human figure, and a Waasgo consuming a second Whale, all mounted on a chamfered base. Each form flows into the next with striking precision. The sculpted musculature, balanced composition, and densely entwined figures reveal the artist’s deep understanding of both structure and spirit.
1. Louis Collinson Biography. MOA Online Catalogue. https://collection-online.moa.ubc.ca/search/person?person=566&tab=biography. Accessed 15 October 2025.
Christopher W. Smith with First Arts
Provenance
Private Collection, Ottawa;
Estate of the above.
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