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FREE: Native American Totem Pole signed

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Description

The listing, Native American Totem Pole signed has ended.

Hi welcome to my auction:
here is an old totem statue. Its 7" tall. It looks like real carved wood. Don't see any chips in it. Says its made in Alaska by Kiana or Kiank?? Picked this up years ago at a sale...
Thanks for looking........... Happy Bidding:):):)
plz check out my other auctions too...

Questions & Comments

This is Tsimshian. They are carvers living on Annette Island, also known as Metlakatla. It is the only reservation in Alaska. Located on the southern tip of Alaska, it is an island inhabited originally by Tsimshian Indians from Canada. They were relocated there by a pastor who offered to move them there if they would swear off drinking and drugs. There are only a hand full of master carvers there. This is a piece carved probably in the 1950's to 1960's. Vintage. This is a tourist size carving. There are master carvers and totem pole carvers there and nearby Craig. One of the most well known master carvers who carved totem poles as well as smaller pieces in the world died recently. He was Chief of the Killer Whale Clan and known best for his "Healing Heart" totem poles, (full size not miniatures). These were carved to help bring attention to children who died from drugs and alcohol after he lost his own son from that. I hope this helps you with your auction. The information is accurate and you can look it up. Type into your search engine Healing Heart Totem Pole and you will see the totems and master carver Stan Marsden. Watching. Fanned you please fan back.

Jul 5th, 2015 at 12:15:47 PM PDT by

thankyou so much for the awesome info. I looked up the Tsimishian I had no idea this could be something like that. The Healing heart totem story is amazing .Stan loved his son so much his memorial to him was that totem pole which turned into a huge community project. as a reminder to others of the dangers of drugs & alcohol, everyone wanted to help make it. There is a video about it on you tube. So glad you found the auction. Thankyou and fanned you back:)

Jul 5th, 2015 at 11:23:57 PM PDT by

Anyone interested in the grueling history of these enduring people should read the book "Alaska" by Robert Mitchell. Once you pick it up you won't want to put it down. It is probably available through E-books. When Russians took over what happened to whole clans will sicken you. White men all but destroyed so many clans. Some were wiped out when they took all the men and left the women and young children to survive on their own. Women had never hunted or fished before. They only knew how to prepare the food after the men caught or killed it and brought it to them. It was a cruel long suffering death sentence. Anyway read the book. That is just one small story from a very thick but all encompassing and enthralling book.

Jul 6th, 2015 at 9:50:54 AM PDT by

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Jul 6th, 2015 at 10:06:11 AM PDT by

The info given by kennonsue is correct. Stan Marsden is my uncle through marriage of his nephew Steven. He was also responsible for the Healing Heart Totem Pole 2. There should also be a video on that one. Uncle Stan became frustrated at firs8t while working on it. Everyone wanted it, but there he was working on it by himself for a while. Finally others began to help out. He taught a lot of people to carve. His carvings are known world wide. Not just totem pole carvings, but he carved a wide variety of things which sold for many thousand dollars each. For example a walking cane that sold for around $15,000. The cane had beautiful carvings depicting Tsimshian heritage. Even though the carving you have was a tourist carving from over 50 years ago, it is still very coveted and very much a part of Tsimshian culture. All said and done this is a very nice auction item. I will be watching to see where this goes and who knows, it might end up with me. LOL My husband also carves and I also carved many years ago. Other things have taken my interest since I have been in a wheelchair over 18 years with MS. Sharp objects and I don't mix well. I am already a fan. Best of luck. Great piece of history.

Jul 6th, 2015 at 2:49:49 AM PDT by

So glad you found the auction Elaine. Your Uncle was so talented. He made some amazing items. I'm glad the people finally came around to helping him. That was a big project for one person only. I think the people probably didn't think they could do it really and were afraid to try. I'm glad your husband is keeping the tradition of carving totems. Its quite an art. So glad you found the auction. Thankyou for the awesome info. I'm a fan of yours already... :)

Jul 6th, 2015 at 9:40:57 AM PDT by

The name on the bottom is Kiana reference to Kiana Lodge. They are not located on Metlakatla, but still originally from Canada like those on Metlakatla. Still have to go by ferry, same as Metlakatla (Annette Island). Out of bounds except to Native Alaskan Indians. Anyone who really wants to research it can go on the internet and learn way too much information to post here. Still appears to be Tsimshian Canadian Indians who migrated by whatever means to the Southern tip of Alaska. I hope this helps and does not confuse the issue. I love this carving. So much like carvers hundreds of years ago. Simplicity at it's finest. They carved from a wide range of materials including seal tusks, antlers, bone, whale bone, wale penile bone (not sure how to nicely put that one, but they are quite large), wood, metal and anything that might have drifted from the ocean. So much history and I am not a historian. Just a wonderful history of how carvers came to be and why. Think about what you would do with the same materials hundreds of years ago.

Jul 6th, 2015 at 3:37:20 AM PDT by

Thankyou for that interesting information. Many on Listia are probably wondering too the history on totems. I'm not sure i want to give this one up now. lol... Its got great history and meaning. Your right back they used lot of materials to carve onto and create art so they used what they could find.

Jul 6th, 2015 at 9:33:53 AM PDT by

Love this and all the great people who gave great history here on your listing :) Fanned and watching

Jul 7th, 2015 at 6:21:19 AM PDT by

Thankyou for the great comment. Glad you found the auction, i have fanned you back:)

Jul 7th, 2015 at 10:18:56 AM PDT by

thanks much, many blessings......

Jul 3rd, 2015 at 6:36:30 PM PDT by

you are very welcome. blessings :)

Jul 3rd, 2015 at 11:07:13 PM PDT by

Red Cedar is the most common wood used for carving. It is much lighter than oak in weight. It is even lighter than pine. I would guess about a pound at that size if all of it is Red Cedar. You can pretty well tell that is what it is if it is not heavy. It is however heavier than Balsa wood. Hope that helps. I shouldn't be doing all this helping. I am after it too. LOL

Jul 9th, 2015 at 4:51:06 PM PDT by

yes, it is very light. I thought it should be heavier. But i think maybe it weighs a half pound is my guess. I have no idea what kind of wood it is. I bought it second hand and really didn't ask about it when I bought it. I just thought it looked cool. best of luck to you:)

Jul 9th, 2015 at 8:43:25 PM PDT by

How heavy is this? If you don't have a way to weigh it, even a rough guess or comparison to the weight of a common household item or something would be good. Thanks!

Jul 9th, 2015 at 1:13:47 PM PDT by

ok, i just weighed it . It is 4.7 ounces. Thats pretty light . Hope that helps

Jul 9th, 2015 at 8:45:16 PM PDT by

To Elainefwalker: I just wanted to thank you personally for that great introduction of the history concerning the Native Alaskan Indians. I was so taken back by your knowledge. I love the History and culture of all Indian tribes, they have so much to offer, it's just a matter of research and reading. You are a 5 Star Class Listian.
Take care and God Bless You. Lmrf

Jul 7th, 2015 at 7:46:54 AM PDT by

You are all awesome Listians:)

Jul 7th, 2015 at 10:21:56 AM PDT by

Hi there, very great listing, I have around 8 or so of this type, Yes I know, I'm goofy, dust collectors. This is the Only Type I do collect. Already a Fan and will be watching until the end. Many Blessings

Jul 3rd, 2015 at 10:49:23 AM PDT by

i'm so glad you found the auction. I almost was going to put this in a flower pot outside when i decided to list it instead. I figured there might be a collector of these kind of totem poles. They really are awesome and the really big ones are amazing. Best of luck to you winning:)

Jul 3rd, 2015 at 3:19:54 PM PDT by

Hundreds of years ago, if a Tsimshian had you for dinner, well. . . bad news. Not to worry, civilization changed that long ago.

Jul 6th, 2015 at 2:55:12 AM PDT by

oh no, good thing...lol

Jul 6th, 2015 at 9:34:13 AM PDT by

Fanned and watching, very cool. :)

Jul 7th, 2015 at 6:44:11 PM PDT by

i'm already your fan:) Thanks for bidding and watching, best of luck to you...

Jul 7th, 2015 at 8:58:36 PM PDT by

I am watching this one . my husband just began carving . and I read every word that was written about this thank you for listing this . but unfortunately for me the credits have aleady passed what I have . and no money to buy any with or stuff to get the credits. thanks again . watching and fanning you

Jul 7th, 2015 at 7:10:34 PM PDT by

how cool that your husband is carving totems. Maybe you can list one of his totems on here someday Ibet it would do very well. I'm so glad you stopped by and are watching . I have fanned you back:)

Jul 7th, 2015 at 9:04:19 PM PDT by

Awesome!!No way I would part with this

Jul 9th, 2015 at 6:19:28 AM PDT by

i have another one almost just like it. Thanks for stopping by:)

Jul 9th, 2015 at 9:53:41 AM PDT by

Forgot to say Stan "the Man" Marsdan was Tsimshian.

Jul 5th, 2015 at 12:18:00 PM PDT by

:):)

Jul 5th, 2015 at 11:24:47 PM PDT by

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( ☆* Fantastic Auction...Watching…..
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Jul 11th, 2015 at 11:44:18 AM PDT by

go MYSREROY go, You knocked Me Out! But I'll Get You My Pretty!!!!!!!

Jul 11th, 2015 at 11:47:49 AM PDT by

Native American Totem Pole signed is in the Antiques category