Model Totem Pole Item Number: A5329 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
A model totem pole (part a) depicting a bear with copper, and a thunderbird (from bottom to top). The bear's black eyes are surrounded by a mint green area with black brows above. The bear's nose and open mouth are outlined with red. The copper that the bear is holding is painted with an upper section that has a circular face with its black eyes surrounded by a dark green area with a red mouth. This face has a six-pointed red sun-like-shaped outline around it. The lower section of the copper is painted black with three double-pairs of upward pointing arrows with a vertical line down the middle. There is a human head in between the bear and the copper. The thunderbird's black eyes are surrounded by a dark green area with black brows above and a red lined beak. The upswept wings, one of which is detached (part b), each have six feather sections painted dark green and red outlined with black. The chest has a face that has large black eyes with a red mouth.
Iconographic Meaning
Represents grizzly bear, nan, holding copper, with thunderbird, kwankwanxwaliga.
Item History
- Made by Charlie James (Maker) in Fort Rupert, British Columbia, Canada and Tsaxis, British Columbia, Canada before 1938
- Owned by Walter C. Koerner before January 1973
- Received from Walter C. Koerner (Donor) during January 1973
What
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Creator
- Charlie James (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- Walter C. Koerner
- Received from
- Walter C. Koerner (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Fort Rupert, British Columbia, Canada and Tsaxis, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1938
- Ownership Date
- before January 1973
- Acquisition Date
- during January 1973
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 0233/0035 a-b