50" Gitxsan model totem pole, Rupert Jeffrey, Skeena River (video!)

• Nation: Haida gwaii art, native American art
• Artist: Jeffrey, Rupert
• Type: Totem

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Truly a very impressive piece - you won't find anything like this anywhere else. 

50" (over 4 ft tall) Totem Pole by Rupert Jeffrey from the Skeena River, Gitxsan First Nations in yellow cedar

Title by artist: "Family House, Lineage from my Grandma"

Please have a close look at the images provided - this piece really is a masterpiece, the carving is so detailed, highest quality craftsmanship. Rupert clearly loves this art and always puts all his love and history into it. He pays great attention to details. Everything fully hand carved, no machines used! All of it is hand painted, guaranteed authentic, fabulous piece of Indigenous art. 

Meaning: Let's start at the top: 3 Watchmen, representing the 3 Nations: Gitxsan, Tshimshan and Haida. Below the 3 watchmen you can see the lightning strike representing people from heaven. Below that is the male Killer Whale with a human, ready to ride on the whale's fin. The white face below represents the Grizzly Bear dancer. The face is white because it does represent supernatural strength, showing human body on one side, bear body on the other. Below the Whale is the Thunderbird with baby Thunderbird at it's feet, representing Reincarnation.

Below that is the female Killer Whale (representing Rupert's mother side), followed by the Grizzly Sea Bear, the blue paint is representing the Sea all through the totem. The Grizzly Sea Bear is holding a frog and 2 salmon, one represents the steelhead and the other the spring salmon

Rupert even carved the base, showing 6 "rectangles" representing 6 Generations of his Gitxsan family and the bear claw on the right side. 

Counting the grain in the wood, Rupert calculated the age of the cedar to be 373 years. 

Measurements: 50" tall (over 4 ft), pole is 2 1/2" wide at widest point, 3 1/2" deep incl. fin's., base is 9 1/2" x 7"

Signed with his carved initials at the back of the pole itself as well as underneath the totem on top of the wooden base. It's mounted on the base with two wooden pegs. 

Note: USD amounts estimated based on Bank of Canada average exchange rate, updated weekly, Invoice in CAD, overseas shipping not available. 

We guarantee the authenticity of every piece of art sold through our Gallery !!! We do not offer reproductions, imported copies, mass-produced, machine made or so called native-inspired/native-style products

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About This Artist

Rupert Jeffrey is a member of the Gitskan First Nation, originating from the Skeena River area, a culture considered to be part of the civilization of the Pacific Northwest Coast although it lies in the interior rather than on the coast. The...Artist bio and other available works »