Questions & Answers
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What does totem mean in art?
1 Answer

In art, a totem means more than one thing. Generally, a totem is any item that depicts another object, person or animal. Indigenous people often use totems to symbolize their family heritage and ancestors. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of totems.
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
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Shop for Totem Carving on 1stDibs
Circa 1900 Salish Totem
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
, Carvings, Native American Totems, Salish, Hudson Bay Fur Trading
Category
Early 20th Century American Native American Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Cedar
$2,000
Vintage Northwest Silvery Grey TOTEM Painted Chalkware Sculpture Paperweight
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Vintage midcentury Northwestern 1950s reproduction in Chalkware of a famous museum TOTEM carving
Category
Vintage 1950s Native American Obelisks
Pair Northwest Coast Cedar Totems
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Northwest coast cedar TOTEM. Signed in pencil on back, "Susan Peters." We assume a former owner
Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Native American Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Cedar
Hand Carved Gnome + Deer Woodland Totem
Located in Brooklyn, NY
If great art is meant to inspire and provoke, this beautiful carving of a gnome with a deer on it's
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood, Pine
$800 Sale Price
20% Off
Naga TOTEM, North-East India, 19th Century
Located in Mexico City, MX
have a strong warrior tradition and are recognized as expert artisans.
Traditionally, totems have
Category
Antique 19th Century Southeast Asian Tribal Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Albert Chubac, TOTEM Sculpture, circa 1980, France
By Albert Chubac
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Albert Chubac (1920-2008), TOTEM sculpture,
Unique piece,
Iron and plexiglass,
circa 1980, France
Category
Vintage 1980s French Mid-Century Modern Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Iron