Featured Jimmy John Totem Pole

I hit an amazing garage sale yesterday while on vacation.

This 12" / 30cm totem pole was only $2!

It's clearly signed Jimmy John on the back. Info about him found here on a previous Antiquers thread:

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/another-nw-totem.72597/

I think the middle form especially is unusual, as he (otter?) is upside down.

Any comments will be appreciated. Thanks.

 

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@all_fakes ...

That's a tough one to read unless you've seen many of his totems.

The way I see it...

Eagle on top
Killer Whale .... or Sea Wolf , w/ human face in the curled back tail.
( the wolf and orca were known in legend to transform into one another , and the flippers on the sides , not being feet or paws , seem to suggest this here.) The divot on the head would suggest an Orcas blow hole.
Sea Bear. As above , the curled back tail and side flippers , suggest a marine mammal.
All sitting on the Box of Daylight , that's sitting on a Frog.
The Frog is widely used as the bottom creature , for its stability, and duality as an animal who lives on land , and in the water. ! Ever seen a frog , trip ?? ..

That's a lot of work for a 12 inch pole , in mint condition , from a well respected master artist !!

Great find !!!!!!!!

( I'd have snapped that up so fast, the Flash would not have seen me do it !!)

 

on , occasion.... creatures can be carved upside down......

( didn't take the bots long to grab that totem...
)

 

Thanks Komo for the detailed analysis! I always appreciate your expertise.

I did recognize the box of light in the bottom, so I'm getting somewhere!

I got quite a few things at this epic garage sale--- for a grand total of $15! But, as you noted, this totem pole was the very first thing I saw and I made a straight line to it. Great find!

 

That's a nice totem. The one you referenced from a few years ago is mine - I've attributed it to Leslie John. Similarities in style to his brother for sure. Love the crisp edges.

 

Superb pick Pott !

 

Thanks Bosko! Great luck.

 

'Great Luck' along with your keen eye and endless hard work (and cardiac health !)-were you biking ?
This pole to my amateur eyes has a unique form (or 'technique' ?). It reminds me style-wise of an Oceanic / Tiki carving in it's directness.
At first I thought the piece was pretty simplistic,then I read this abt John's distinctive technique-
"Although unpainted artworks have existed on the Northwest Coast for centuries, John’s chip-carving style often recalls tramp art more than other Northwest Coast carving methods and represents a distinct departure from customary Nuu-chah-nulth carving."
John's directness is what gives his work such power- ie: he uses less smoothing/shaping strokes (chip carving). It's what makes him a unique artist.
PS- Whether he lived to be "-art galleries estimate his age at death between111 and 114" who knows ?

 

I actually was on my bicycle! But only half a mile from the place we were staying.

I bought some pottery, some other wood pieces, some stone fetish-like carvings, and a large painting. With my backpack and a free hand, I got it all back to our place in one trip.

Thanks for that info on the carver. Here's a picture of him.



https://gevik.com/product-artist/jimmy-john-1876-1978/

 

As Komo says, classic Jimmy John

 

Sounds like he revolutionized Nuu-chah-nulth carving ?
PS- Pott,I figured you were on your bike,hanglider or kayak !

 

Not really...but he fostered a style of his own..