Model Totem Pole
Attributed to
John Robson
(North American Indian, Haida, British Coumbia, Canada, 1841 - 1929)
Dateca. 1890
MediumWood (yew) and pigment
DimensionsOverall: 35 1/2 × 4 3/8 × 5 1/2 inches (90.17 × 11.1 × 13.97 cm)
Credit LineFrom the Estelle and Morton Sosland Collection
Object number2009.41.14
On View
On viewGallery Location
- 206
Collections
DescriptionTotem pole with typical progression of figures including the image of a beaver with a stick in its mouth at mid-point.Gallery LabelThe large-scale production of model totem poles developed in the late 19th century in response to a growing tourist market. The monumental, full-sized poles were icons of native culture, and visitors to the region were fascinated by their impressive scale and complex imagery. Some early models were based on the larger carvings, while others appear to be original compositions of well known clan crest emblems and mythic, supernatural beings. This expertly carved pole was made by one of the best known carvers and exemplifies the finest of the tradition.
Torrence, Gaylord, ed. Continuum: North American Native Art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Kansas City: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
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