Featured Totem Pole Info

Discussion in 'Tribal Art' started by bweems41, Dec 31, 2020.

  1. bweems41

    bweems41 New Member

    I recently inherited a totem pole (or perhaps the top portion of one) from a friend who passed away. I am hoping it is authentic, but I have no information about its tribe, location, nor history. It is about 7 feet tall, and I am wondering if anyone could provide any information about this or a value for insurance and/or sale.
    IMG_5570.jpg
     
  2. judy

    judy Well-Known Member

  3. judy

    judy Well-Known Member

    Hi Bweems! Welcome to Antiquers..............:cat:
     
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  4. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    How wonderful!
     
    i need help likes this.
  5. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

    Looks good to me! Not sure on carver's location though, neat form, I like the welcome figure.
     
    judy and i need help like this.
  6. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    this is worth more investigation.....& we'll need more information...
     
  7. all_fakes

    all_fakes Well-Known Member

    It is not badly done, though not exceptionally good; and could be genuine; a photo of the back, and good photos of the backs of the wings could help.
    Is there a design or figure on the chest of the eagle? A close-up of that, which we could perhaps enhance, might be helpful.
    Weathering can be hard to interpret, as it can be faster than one might expect. A wild guess might be from the area of Duncan BC, circa 1960.
     
  8. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

    So you think it might be one of Simon Charlie's? (I made him a set of carving tools in the 1970's BTW)
    It doesn't look like Vancouver Island Salish work to me, although I'm pretty sure it is native carved. Wings will be the identifier IMO. Cool pole.
     
    Last edited: Dec 31, 2020
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  9. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    at 7 feet tall the proportions are out of wack...so I see why one would think it's missing more work on the bottom and or a sturdy base..
     
    judy likes this.
  10. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    i'm not saying it's not legit...........yet....but the wear is inconsistent....to my eye..and the color.....well it's not classic by any means.....i need to see the base and the back.....
     
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  11. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

    Agree on colour for sure although it could be from up Alaska way and not sure what stuff looks like up there ...the open arms look like they could have held a sign too - Maybe a campground name? or ...Edna Boil's emporium?

     
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  12. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    outstretched arms are a welcome figure sign........

    upload_2021-1-1_2-27-45.jpeg upload_2021-1-1_2-28-30.jpeg

    not so much...holding a sign...;):)

    The totem above looks to me like it wants to copy a famous grave pole....

    upload_2021-1-1_2-47-0.jpeg upload_2021-1-1_2-47-53.jpeg upload_2021-1-1_2-51-3.jpeg
     
    i need help, Potteryplease and judy like this.
  13. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

  14. Gus Tuason

    Gus Tuason Well-Known Member

    I like it! Please note that his (center figure) peekaboo is peeking out. I'm not sure what that means? Did the coastal indians show genitals? I've seen quite a few totems here in the NW but don't recall that any stressed male parts? Research needed.
     
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  15. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    umm...i don't see that....and besides..it's supposed to be a she...

    Yes...naughty bits were sometimes present...........

    upload_2021-1-1_16-39-14.jpeg
     
    judy and Potteryplease like this.
  16. bweems41

    bweems41 New Member

    I've taken a few more detailed photos of the pole. There are some details that may hopefully give clues. Photo captions describe what I'm seeing/showing.

    https://imgur.com/a/2A83exl
     
    judy likes this.
  17. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    can you post them here please....
    some of us are skittish , clicking on links .........
     
    judy likes this.
  18. bweems41

    bweems41 New Member

     
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  19. bweems41

    bweems41 New Member

    Here you go. Hopefully the gallery feature works here. Notes:
    • Back is unpainted and completely flat. Almost like it was intended to be attached to a structure and not a stand-alone pole?
    • Wood dough was used for repair at some point, someone wanted to keep this thing together
    • Nails are used to attach wings and arms to body. Not sure if that's expected.
    • Significant dry rot/termite damage near bottom in rear.
    • Metal pieces are tapped inside eagle's head to hold cracks together.
    • Bottom is jagged and rotted. Not sure what this was attached to - more pole or some sort of base?

     
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2021
    judy, Willcpfc and Potteryplease like this.
  20. Potteryplease

    Potteryplease Well-Known Member

    Is there an easy way to tell if it's cedar? The grain looks straight and fine to me, on the wings at least, perhaps suggesting old growth, but as for determining the wood itself given such a weathered look, I don't know.
     
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