Monumental Northwest Coast style folk art totem pole. The non-Indigenous artist who carved this pole was much more familiar with Northwest Coast formal design than other hobbyist carvers from the mid-20th century. This monumental pole is well-carve and features, from the top: Watchman, Raven, Deer/Fawn, and Human grasping Killer Whale. The pole combines several styles and images that draw from different First Nations from the Northwest Coast, with an overall Tlingit-influenced style, Haida Watchman, and a Squamish/Coast Salish style Killer Whale. Interestingly, the Deer/Fawn head appears to be modeled after the Disney character Bambi, which was released in 1942, and may be a hint as to when this pole was made. The Human grasping the Killer Whale tail and appearing to ride it is also likely a reference to the Tlingit hero Natislane, the Man Who Created the First Killer Whale, or Nanasimgit, the Haida hero who rescued his wife from the Killer Whales. Again, this allusion to Northwest Coast cosmology illustrates the level of familiarity of this carver with Indigenous culture. The pole is painted in white, red, blue, yellow, brown, and black and features mid-20th century formline elements carved in low relief. Overall, this pole is a much better-than-average non-Indigenous folk art totem pole. 116" x 16"W x 18"D

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PERIOD: Mid 20th Century

ORIGIN: Northwest - Unknown, United States

SIZE: 116" x 16"W x 18"D