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Model Totem pole
Alaska
“Chief Shakes’ son” miniature totem pole
Tlingit, Pacific Northwest
Late 19th century
Carved wood, pigments
Height: 84.5 cm – 33 in.
Provenance
Ex private collection, USA
Sold
This sculpture is the miniature version of a memorial pole, raised to honor a deceased shaman or chief. The depicted animals were important family crests associated with powerful tutelary spirits.
This sculpture is the model of Chief shakes’ son crest pole. According to W. Coleman (see Totems & Shamans, 2008 page 203), it is based on a heraldic pole erected for Chief George Shakes in Old Wrangell, Alaska, and photographed ca. 1895. (The photograph is now in the Alaska State Library—Historical Collections #ASL-P87-0126). The figure at the base represents an anthropomorphized beaver, clutching a stick athwart its breast. Above this is an eagle. Above the eagle is a Raven/sun figure, enfolding in its wings a small human figure— presumably Shakes himself. The top figure is another depiction of Raven, standing on a box of daylight, holding a bear mask (emblematic of the lineage founder), and wearing a hat with three potlatch rings (the full-scale pole has two rings).
The Shakes lineage is an old one, whose founder took his name from a Tsimshian chief he had defeated in battle. This model crest pole is said to belong to belong to “Chief Shakes’ son,” and dates to the late 19th century. This presumably alludes to Shakes VI, who took the name on the death of Shakes V in 1878, and held into until his death in 1916.
This sculpture is the model of Chief shakes’ son crest pole. According to W. Coleman (see Totems & Shamans, 2008 page 203), it is based on a heraldic pole erected for Chief George Shakes in Old Wrangell, Alaska, and photographed ca. 1895. (The photograph is now in the Alaska State Library—Historical Collections #ASL-P87-0126). The figure at the base represents an anthropomorphized beaver, clutching a stick athwart its breast. Above this is an eagle. Above the eagle is a Raven/sun figure, enfolding in its wings a small human figure— presumably Shakes himself. The top figure is another depiction of Raven, standing on a box of daylight, holding a bear mask (emblematic of the lineage founder), and wearing a hat with three potlatch rings (the full-scale pole has two rings).
The Shakes lineage is an old one, whose founder took his name from a Tsimshian chief he had defeated in battle. This model crest pole is said to belong to belong to “Chief Shakes’ son,” and dates to the late 19th century. This presumably alludes to Shakes VI, who took the name on the death of Shakes V in 1878, and held into until his death in 1916.
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