This massive model pole features a toothed, humanoid figure sitting atop a Raven, which is in turn sitting on a monoxylous pedestal. The imagery is unusual for this maker for not featuring a bird on the top of the pole. The pole is mounted on a metal base that was added later. It’s carved in red cedar and painted in old green, black, white, and yellow paints. There is also some structure carved between and behind the figures that imply a backboard. Although this maker’s name is currently unknown, based on shop catalogues from the period and stickers present on much of their work, this artist is known to have been active in the Seattle curio trade and to have carved for the Ye Olde Curiosity Shop and Hudson Bay Fur Co. (Seattle) in the first quarter of the 20th century.

Christopher W. Smith