Indigenous American West Coast Haida Styled Carved & Polychrome Painted Totem

This large antique tribal mask or sculpture is unsigned and undocumented, but presumed to have originated from Southeast Asia and done in a folk ar...

Hand carved Maori sculpture of a hunter carrying a crocodile and fish.

This large Indigenous North American stone carving was done by Thomas B. Maracle of the Mohawk Nation in circa 1985 in his signature Indigenous Folk Art...

This handcrafted sculpture was made in Northern Canada by an Inuit artisan in circa 1970. This sculpture is a series of two stylized human figures intermixed with two representations of presumably Spirits, which has several carved faces in them. The entire sculpture is composed of hand carved and handcrafted antler, likely Caribou. This sculpture may symbolize a blessing of good fortune for an upcoming hunt. The series of four figures are each pegged on the bottom and fit into holes drilled into the base. The base is numbered on the bottom which identifies that it was registered, and also has a paper label. Due to the composition of this sculpture it may only be shipped within Canada...

A fine example attributed to master Nuu-chah-nulth carver Ray Williams, circa 1960s. Ray Williams was the son of famed carver Sam Williams who started car...

A beautifully designed, wonderfully carved Pacific Northwest Coast First Nation Native American indigenous hand carved wood totem pole. The work depicts a watchman (or watcher) figu...

Totem poles are among the most recognisable artistic expressions of the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, including communities across present-day Alaska and British Columbia. Traditionally carved from monumental cedar trunks, these sculptural forms served as visual records of lineage, status, mythology, and clan identity. The figures depicted—often animals, supernatural beings, and ancestral spirits—were arranged in carefully structured sequences, each contributing to narratives that communicated family histories, cultural values, and sacred traditions. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, smaller-scale carvings inspired by these monumental poles began to circulate beyond their original contexts, finding appreciation among travellers and collectors drawn to the distinctive visual language of Northwest Coast art. Today, they remain powerful reminders of the storytelling traditions and artistic ingenuity of the region. This carved and painted wooden totem pole presents a lively vertical composition inspired by the narrative traditions of Alaskan Indigenous carving. Rich in character and decorative appeal, the sculpture combines a succession of stylised figures, each distinguished by expressive carving and bold polychrome ornament. The uppermost section is dominated by the head of a bird, with a pronounced beak, wide circular eyes, and striking red and black painted details that immediately command attention. Beneath it appears a stylised fish rendered horizontally across the composition, its curved form creating a visual transition between the figures above and below. Further down, a smiling mask-like face emerges from the structure, its animated expression lending warmth and individuality to the carving. Supporting the composition is a fourth figure with outstretched wing- or fin-like elements, highlighted with accents of blue, black, and white that contribute to the rhythm and balance of the overall design. The figures are arranged in the traditional stacked manner associated with totemic imagery, with incised detailing used to define facial features, plumage, scales, and other distinguishing characteristics. The painted decoration remains vibrant, softened only slightly through time, and continues to enhance the sculptural quality of the work. Of particular interest are the handwritten inscriptions on the reverse, reading "North American Indian Totem Pole...

A striking hand carved Pacific Northwest Coast totem pole by Nuu-chah-nulth artist Sam Williams (1884?-1979). Williams was born in Vancouve...