261. Pewter Raven with Bear and Salmon

Fine art pewter sculpture of Raven atop a bear, catching salmon. Possibly fish or whale motif in between. Base has moon and two monster faces in relief.

 Rear is hollow with makers mark ‘MG’ and copyright stamp. 4” high overall.

260. HS Thunderbird With Straight Wings

Five inches high, amber resin with clear cut casting.Thunderbird with unusual truangular wings sits above a wolf (?) resting on a large human like head with lolling tongue - presumably deceased.

Base shows initials H.S. See no  31 for same maker

 

246. Pewter Thunderbird Figure

Small white metal pewter figure of Thunderbird, with wings outstretched. Finely detailed, just under 3" high. Unknown maker - marked WS on rear

 

239. Nuu Chaa Nulth Style Pole

Resin pole, 8" high, based on Nuu Chaa Nulth style, with a Thunderbird perched on a bear?

 Dated on the reverse 1998.

235. Miniature Black Thunderbird Totem

 Small black resin piece, no makers marks. Possibly Boma or Pearlite. 2” high See 148. For similarities.

228. Quaker Sgt Preston Mail Away Totem Set

A set of five clay composite poles, hand painted and varnished, given away in 1952 as a mail away premium with Quaker Puffed Wheat and Rice, in association with the popular tv series Sgt Preston of the Yukon.

Although not specifically mentioned in connection with the series, each of the poles are based on actual monuments in the area.

The original mailer includes the card insert and instruction leaflet, with a brief description of each pole.

THUNDERBIRD

Thunderbird sits atop a Beaver representing the Basket Bay Tlingit Clan and the marriage between them and the Kata clan, shown by the Bear on the lowest position. 

THE FIGHT WITH
THE LAND OTTERS

This totem represents two legends, a fight between Raven and a Bullhead fish and the abduction of four boys by a tribe of Otters and the subsequent fight to rescue them.

BURIAL (MORTUARY) POLE

This type of pole contained the remnants of a high status persons burial. This one contained the bones and ashes of Chief Ske-Dans of Skidegate on the Queen Charlotte Islands. The rectangular header contains a mortuary box to hold the remains. The Moon is the chiefs personal emblem, the Mountain Goat his mothers and the Grizzly Bear at the base, his fathers tribe.

KILLER WHALE

This is the totem of the Tongas Tribe, showing Raven, Beaver, Boy, Sea Lion and Whale at the base.

SUN & RAVEN

This pole shows the exploits of Raven and includes the Sun motif, Children of the Sun, Fog Woman, Raven and Bullfrog.

The Sun & Raven pole is also featured in the Nabisco Rin Tin Tin  premium set from 1958 - See post No.197 for further information.

SUN & RAVEN POLE - SAXMAN PARK B.C

225. Resin Alaska Totem Pole

 8" high, no makers marks. Thunderbird headed, with stylised creatures below. Beneath Thunderbird, the figures are almost cartoonish and the first seems to have a snake around the neck, leading to a man holding a fish, a bird and an owl like figure on the base.

221. Small Ironwood Totem

Four inches high, hand carved from Ironwood or Mahogany. Simple, crude styling, three piece construction. No polish evident.

From the same maker as No 215 (Right) and No 34 (Left).

 

Model shown photographed in infra red light, showing the figuring and detail in the wood.

215. Hand Carved Ironwood Totem II

Superb hand carved Thunderbird made from dense Ironwood. Same style as No34, but with larger base and slight stylistic variation. No TM or makers marks visible. Slightly redder colouration to 34. 6" high

 

Model shown photographed in infra red light, showing the figuring in the wood and the carved detail.

213. Pewter Totem Thimble Stack

Heavyweight pewter casting of six individual 'thimbles' which can be assembled as a six inch totem pole.

Head of Thunderbird, Wings, human head, legs, animal head and base.