Description
Northwest Coast Bella Coola Totem Pole
Date: 1920s Artist: Frank (Bella Coola)
Materials: Yellow cedar; blue, green, red, and black pigments
Dimensions: 7 ¾” tall x 2″ x 1 5/8″
A finely carved Bella Coola (Nuxalk) model totem pole from the 1920s, executed in yellow cedar with original polychrome pigments in blue, green, red, and black. The pole presents a classic vertical narrative of crest beings rendered with strong, compact proportions and confident hand-tool detailing.
Imagery & Iconography
The figures descend in sequence:
- Frog — a powerful transformer and messenger between realms
- Bear — a figure of protection, authority, and ancestral strength
- Raven — the great cultural hero and bringer of light, depicted here with characteristic formline features
The imagery is tightly composed, with each figure clearly articulated despite the small scale, demonstrating the carver’s familiarity with Nuxalk design conventions.
Inscription
On the reverse is a period inscription reading: “from Frank Bella Koola Indian this is a totem pole” This handwritten note provides valuable early provenance and directly attributes the carving to Frank, a Bella Coola artist active in the early 20th century.
Provenance
- Private collection, British Columbia
This is an appealing, early Bella Coola model pole with strong cultural imagery, original paint, and a rare period inscription—well suited for collectors of Northwest Coast miniature carvings and Nuxalk art traditions
