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 detailed craftsmanship and vibrant paintwork, and this work is no exception. At the top, we encounter an eagle 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, and whose red claws and jet black arms convey strength and vitality. At the bottom is a wolf with angular teeth picked out in red, evoking sharp, formidable energy.