1937 Pacific Northwest Carved and Painted TOTEM

Authentic First Nations wood carved mask by master carver, Henry Hunt (1923-1985). This hand carved gem depicts a Canadian Grizzly Bear. Pencil signed in cursive on the reverse, Henry Hunt. Carved out of Pacific Northwest pine. Hunt had a rich history replicating and also making one of a kind masks, figures and totems in the Kwakwaka'wakw tradition. This piece dates circa 1970-80. Good overall condition with wear consistent with age. One minor ding near the eye (see photo). Dark patina. No visible splits. Approximately 5" deep x 5.13" wide x 7" high. Galleries West Bio: In 1941, the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria opened Thunderbird Park on a small piece of land adjacent to the museum. Centred around the historic Helmcken House on the same site, it was a small but growing collection of authentic examples of northwest coast art — poles, grave markers, and other ceremonial carvings by the Haida, Songhees, Nuu-cha-nulth, and Kwakwaka’wakw people. By the early 1950s, the carvings had started to decay, and the museum hired a carver to replicate the existing poles, and create new carvings based on original works from sites along the west coast. Kwakwaka’wakw chief Mungo Martin was hired as head carver, and he brought in his stepson, Henry Hunt, to assist him. Based on the northeast coast of Vancouver Island, the Kwakwaka’wakw carvers are known for poles and masks carved with traditional hand tools, faces and figures with theatrical expressions, and bright painting outlined in sharp contrast. Martin learned the art from his own stepfather, Charlie James...

Torch cut steel and mixed metals Surrealist sculpture of a headless seated figure. Haunting and thought provoking piece dating from the late 1960s-the early 1970s. Unsigned. The ...

Northwest four figure totem from British Columbia. Old black paint and integral base. Great condition and just the right size. Northwest Coast art, consisting of totem poles, posts or pillars, carved with symbols or figures. They are usually made from large trees, mostly western red cedar...

This handcrafted sculpture was made in Northern Canada by an Inuit artisan in circa 1970. This sculpture is a series of two stylized human figures intermixed with two representations of presumably Spirits, which has several carved faces in them. The entire sculpture is composed of hand carved and handcrafted antler, likely Caribou. This sculpture may symbolize a blessing of good fortune for an upcoming hunt. The series of four figures are each pegged on the bottom and fit into holes drilled into the base. The base is numbered on the bottom which identifies that it was registered, and also has a paper label. Due to the composition of this sculpture it may only be shipped within Canada...