SHADOWS OF THE THUNDERBIRD

187. Red Ceramic Shaman Figure

Very unusual hand painted ceramic piece, depicting a seated figure holding a large fish. Figures mouth is open as if in song. On his head is a tall hat with potlatch rings and an eagle sat on its crest. A second face graces the eagles chest. No makers marks.

Figure seems to be wearing animal skin shirt and leggings.

186. Gordon R. Clayton Beaver and Sun Bentwood Box

Large 8" x 6" hand crafted cedar box, with beaver represented on four sides.Sun motif decorates the lid. Signed inside lid.

185. Boma Black Resin Watchmen Totem

Beaver with face on cheat supports a second unknown animal holding a stick (bear?) A hat decorates the top of the pole.

184. Edmund Wolf Black Resin Totem

See No. 121

183. Green Jade Thunderbird

About two inches high, no TM. Green jade with tbunderbird atop a bear.

182. Black Resin Bear with Hat

3" high, no makers mark. Good quality casting of a bear with elongated status cap or hat.

181. Green Stone Chieftain with Eagle

Crudely formed ‘indian chief’ with headdress is crowned by an Eagle figure. Hard green stone like material. No makers marks.

180. Pewter Nansimget Totem by Glen Rabena

Six inch high pewter design featuring the Watchmen atop of Nansimget riding a killer whale. Raven and man finish off the pole, with stylised eagle and raven motif on the base. Comes with small leaflet in base, describing the legend. Abalone inserts are fitted to accent the details.

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.

178. Pearlite Amber Canada Totem

Simple Canada souvenir totem made in amber coloured resin, with painted accents. Possibly Pearlite. See 86/87.

177. Painted Resin Souvenir Totem

Five inch high resin souvenir. Painted by hand with Canada embossed into the base. No makers marks. Similar in style to no.s 30 and 154.

176. Black Resin Eagle and Sea Monster

No makers mark on body. Stand missing, author replaced base with wooden disc. Eagle sits on top clutching a salmon, while single horned beast with a whale like tail rears upwards. possibly Five Finned Killer Whale or Wasco Sea Wolf.

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

174. Pearlite Amber Resin Thunderbird

No makers marks, but same design as Pearlite Tribal No. 93 and similar in style and quality to amber Pearlite models such as No.23 or 75. 11" high Bear on lower portion, clutches fish or leaf, Killer Whale is carried aloft by Thunderbird with second spirit face on the chest area.

173. Shamans Raven Totem Pole

Raven, Whale, Wolf and Man are shown on the label, casting is crude and imprecise compared to Boma or Pearlite models. Made by Shamans of B.C. Possibly ceramic composite rather than resin.

See also numbers 157, 46 and 43 for other Shamans castings.

172. Intalco Aluminium Thunderbird Commemorative Statue

3" high cast aluminium Thunderbird made by Intalco company in Alcoa. Made for Spring Conference in April 1969.

171. Plastic Totem Whistles

Set of eight premiums from Disneys ‘Brother Bear’ animation. Salmon, Bear, Inuit, Caribou, Eagle, .Ram, Mammoth and Elk. No direct connection to First Nations artistic style, purely animal totemic in form.

170. Black Resin Twin Thunderbird Pole

A 6" resin pole, which seems to be either the inspiration for or a copy of N0.116. As the bronze metal version is dated 1953 on the base, I would hesitate to suggest that the resin version is older, as production of this style still continues today.

The 1953 version features a greater degree of stylisation, so the lowest creature on the pole - possibly a sea monster - is reduced to curves and filligrees on the metal version. This seems to be being carried by a thunderbird with a human face (Hok-Hok ? Kolus ?), topped by an owl, a raven and a thunderbird at the top.

The resin version has no makers mark, but may have traces of the word 'canada' on the front of the stand, presumably removed from the master before casting.