Showing posts with label SIGNED. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SIGNED. Show all posts

230. Danny Joseph Carved Raven






Hand carved sculpture of 'Raven' by Danny Joseph. 





Signed on the base, but with name obscured at some point. Name still visible beneath marker pen, after cleaning.

Danny Joseph of Kwakiutl tribe, also created  item No. 205.
 

216. Bentwood Cedar Salmon Box

6" tall bentwood box. Solid cedar lid with hand painted depiction of a salmon around sides.
Signed in pencil on base "Salmon" and 'JNM' (?)  James Michels ?
See also No 186.

 http://www.ankn.uaf.edu/curriculum/Tlingit/Salmon/kudatan.html

214. Carved Wooden Eagle and Grizzly



Single piece hand carvings of Eagle and Grizzly Bear. Eagle has shop sticker on the base and Bear has initials 'AC' 





 

207. Large Carved Totem

3' long carved in red cedar. Signed 'C.Bell, Vancouver B.C'
Features a Thunderbird carrying a killer whale above a bear, Fog Woman and a pillar with four grimacing faces. (Possibly a papoose in bindings, with four expressions)


 

205. Danny Joseph Carved Cedar Thunderbird

Large 14" hand carved model, showing man grasping a salmon as Thunderbird rises overhead.
Signed on base by 'Danny Joseph' of Kwakiutl Tribe. Finished with an amber varnish. An old break to left wing has been repaired in the past.



 

199. Vic Yeoda Wooden Totem 'Raven's Deal'

Alaska Black Diamond. Six inch hand carved and painted cedar model Representing two ravens, with the face of a shaman on the chest of the upper figure. Made in Alaska sticker and signed 'Vic Yeoda' See number 179. Entitled 'Raven's Deal'


RAVENS DEAL
Two Ravens appeared before the tribal council to discuss the lack of salmon in the streams. The wise men suspected that one of the Ravens was different 

This Raven was actually a Shaman, who had transformed himself into his bird form to find out where the Ravens had hidden the salmon from the streams. 

Ravens enjoyed playing tricks on the humans, but this time the old Shaman was smart. He flew with Raven this spring morning, watching him divert the salmon away from the streams, back to sea. A mischievous deed he had made with the Killer Whales so they could have more than their share of fish to eat. 

That same night, as Raven's eyes became heavy with sleep, the Shaman turned himself back into his Raven form and flew back over the open ocean to cast a spell on the salmon, making them swim back to the streams, double crossing the deal the Trickster Raven had made with the Killer Whales. 

To this day, each spring and fall, the Raven and the Shaman play this game. That is why the salmon return to the streams and this why Ravens do not land on the salt water, where Killer Whale awaits him.

Model in infra red light


179. Eagles' Human Legacy Yellow Cedar Totem

Made by Alaska Black Diamond, carved in yellow cedar and signed by Vic Yeoda. Eagle figure rests atop human head. from the same stable as the Patrick Searle models. See No's 108/109/199 Entitled 'Eagles Human Legacy'
 

Eagles Human Legacy
I hear him, Grandfather. His call is echoing off the hills. It sounds so important.
He beckons you, my son, to look into the future, as he has done. For it is Eagle who has the most powerful vision. It is he who represents prestige and power. Eagle has always protected this village from harm. You are of the Eagle clan, my son. Follow in Eagles’s direction.Become strong like his wings, powerful as his call. Eagle will always guide you.
Grandfather, you know Eagle well.
Yes, my son, for I am he.




175. William Dennis Snr Wooden Totem





9" high carved wood, with base. Signed under the base in pen, 'William Dennis Sr, Nootka (BC?)
Unusual design with Thunderbird head shaped without visible beak and eye arranged vertically


167. Hoselton Large Cast Aluminium Totem

5" aluminium totem by Hoselton of Canada, signed on base. Similar to Boma version 142.
Interestingly, despite both pieces (167/168)  being signed by the maker on the base, the Hoselton company has no record of either totem being made, although a maple leaf dish, which came with one of the pieces, was recognised.

 



166. Hoselton Aluminium Cast Totem

3" high solid aluminium, simplistic abstract molding style. Possibly based on Boma original No.151. Marked Hoselton Canada
 



155. Wooden Hesquiaht Totem


Mary Erdman Wooden totem, signed. 6" high, three parts

113. Hand Carved Wooden Thunderbird, Signed R.G



109. Medium ‘Eagle Boy’ Patrick Seale totem


Entitled 'Eagle Boy'
Colourful handfcrafted wooden totem, 8" Signed Patrick Seale - made in Alaska label

EAGLE BOY
During the cool summer evenings, the chief's nephew would go down the narrow piece of land, jetting out into the ocean, to feed eagles. The other villagers called him lazy when he went off to gaze at the skies rather than help dry salmon for the approaching winter. Only his grandmother believed in her heart that he would prove himself one day.

When the village became short of food, the uncle decided to move everyone, except his nephew, to the Euchlegan Rivers further north.

The nephew, now lonely and without food, watched as an eagle flew out to the spit. As he watched, the eagle released his tight hold on a salmon. 

He stumbled on rocks as he quickened his pace to get to the food. The nephew burst with joy when more eagles came with offerings for him.

Meanwhile, the uncle did not fare well. There were no Euchlegan in the rivers.

As they returned to the nephew they all noticed his strength from being well fed. He offered food to them. In return they gladly offered their wealth to him. He became a much respected man in the village which filled his grandmother with much happiness.

108. Large Decorative Patrick Seale 'Fog Woman' totem

Wooden handcrafted 12" Fog Woman myth totem - signed Patrick Seale Made in Alaska label


The Legend of Fog Woman
Raven and his two men were fishing in a canoe. They had traveled further out in the water than they had ever gone before. Soon they were engulfed by a dense fog. The fog was so dense that the trio lost their balance and did not know where they were. Suddenly, on the bow of the canoe appeared a beautiful woman. “I will show you the way to my village and to safety.” sh said, Of course, Raven and the men followed her. After a short time, Raven fell in love with Fog Woman, and they ere married. They were very happy until a food shortage befell the village. Everyone was short of food except Fog Woman, who always had plenty of salmon in her cooking pot. Being a very curious creature, Raven follows Fog Woman to the creek. There he witnesses her swirl, her fingers in the water and out jump beautiful salmon. He asks how she makes this happen, but she won’t tell him. Raven grumbles and returns to the village. Again, Raven asks how she produces the salmon. She refuses to tell him. This time Raven says, “If you won’t tell me, then be gone!” At this she turns into Fog and rolls out to sea calling, “I will come to you only as Fog, but I will return salmon to the streams each year so you and the village will have plenty of food.”
That is how we get Salmon and Fog today.