One of a kind. This is a casting that was made by, and for, the Royal British Columbia Museum. The casting is of a totem pole that was made by 1st Nation's artist Henry Hunt and was used as a scale model decades ago in the museum. Small scale models like this 1 were also used to model the full-sized displays prior to construction. Special because these models were almost always destroyed or put into longterm storage - making the original museum models exceptionally rare to find. This 1 survives only because the person working at the museum was able to rescue it from disposal. This was just discovered in the attic of the former worker's estate and is 1 of the most exciting finds we came across. About Henry Hunt... Henry Hunt, Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) artist (born sixteen October 1923 in Fort Rupert, BC; died thirteen March 1985 in Victoria, BC). For nearly 20yrs, Hunt worked as a carver at the Royal British Columbia Museum’s Thunderbird Park (see Northwest Coast Aboriginal Art). e was the grandson of Kwakwaka'wakw ethnographer George Hunt and father of carvers Tony Hunt, Richard Hunt and Stanley Hunt. Henry Hunt began his career as a fisherman and logger, but later moved to Victoria, BC, to assist his father-in-law and distinguished Kwakwaka’wakw artist, Mungo Martin, as a carver at Thunderbird Park. Martin and Arthur Shaughnessy, another well-known Kwakwaka'wakw carver, taught Hunt the art of carving. In association with the British Columbia Provincial Museum (now the Royal British Columbia Museum), Hunt helped to restore and preserve Aboriginal art in Thunderbird Park for nearly twenty years. After Martin’s death in 1962, Hunt became the Thunderbird Park master carver. During his time at the museum, Henry Hunt trained his sons, Tony, Stanley and Richard, all of whom became acclaimed carvers. Tony was his father’s chief assistant carver while Henry worked at Thunderbird Park. When Henry resigned from the carving program in 1974, his son, Richard, became Thunderbird Park’s master carver. In addition to his work at Thunderbird Park, Henry created pieces of art that were displayed across British Columbia and Canada, including a totem pole that he carved, with Martin, that stands over 38.9 m tall in Beacon Hill Park (Victoria, BC), an impressive pole for the Totem Marina at Shuswap Lake, BC, and an outstanding pole for the Indians of Canada Pavilion at Expo 67 in Montréal, QC. Henry and his sons also carved many smaller presentation poles – approx 45 cm tall – for visiting heads of state and dignitaries, including Lester Pearson, Lyndon Johnson and Queen Elizabeth II. Perhaps the Hunt family’s most significant work is the magnificent Mungo Martin memorial pole at ‘Yalis (Alert Bay), BC. Erected in 1970, this 9.75 m pole stands in memory of Hunt’s mentor and late father-in-law. Henry Hunt, and the family of artists who surrounded him, helped to preserve and promote the traditional artwork, stories and artistic techniques of the Kwakwaka’wakw culture. Hunt’s works are found in international collections, both private and museum. Overall in fantastic condition given its age. Shipping Worldwide is Available International Buyers - Please Note Import duties, taxes, and fees are not included in the item price or shipping cost. There fees are the buyers responsibility. Please check your own countries customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying. Payment via Paypal, Cash or Bank Transfer are accepted Please ask for a shipping estimate. We always combine. Please see our feedback so you can buy with confidence. IMPORTANT TERMS & CONDITIONS of SALE USA, International & Canadian buyers: Please note: Shipping rates are not always accurate. Please email for rate to your specific location and include address or Postal Code. We will NOT ship without full insurance and a signature will be required. We will not ship by surface, nor will we lie on a Customs form. Please DO NOT PAY until you are invoiced with proper shipping. Payment prior to being invoiced may have the sale cancelled by us. The sale will be cancelled if your address is changed after conclusion of the sale. We do not ship to post-office boxes or un-confirmed addresses. Feedback: I will provide feedback after I receive your feedback. General: Glass, pottery and ceramics are not insurable for loss or breakage through Canada Post. While we do package extremely well and have never had an item arrive broken, buyer's assume the risk and responsibility for ordering UN-insurable items from us as we cannot warranty items after Customs have open and repacked our packages. All items being purchased are sold As-Is. All sales are final. Images are part of the listing description - please review them closely and ask for additional photos if you need to.
