Model Totem Poles: Tradition & Transformation SEPTEMBER 10 - 24, 2026
Model Totem Poles: Tradition & Transformation SEPTEMBER 10 - 24, 2026
BID AND VIEW ALL LOTS ONLINE bid.waddingtons.ca
FIRST NATIONS ART firstnationsart@waddingtons.ca
FRONT COVER Various Lots
AUCTION STARTS TO CLOSE Thursday, September 24 at 2 pm
SENIOR SPECIALIST Palmer Jarvis pj@waddingtons.ca 416-847-6191
FRONT INSIDE COVER Lot 9 Possibly Unidentified ‘Namgis (Kwakwaka’wakw) Artist Model Totem Pole Possibly After Kwaw’Yim (Whale House Pole), ‘Yalis (Alert Bay)
ON VIEW Sunday, September 20 from 12 pm to 4 pm Monday, September 21 from 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday, September 22 from 10 am to 5 pm Or by appointment. PREVIEW HELD AT 100 Broadview Avenue, Suite 200 Toronto, ON M4M 3H3 TEL: 416-504-9100 TOLL FREE: 1-877-504-5700
This catalogue and its contents © 2026 Waddington McLean & Company Ltd. This auction is subject to the Conditions of Sale found on our website. Photography & design by Waddington’s All rights reserved.
CONSIGNMENT SPECIALIST Elizabeth Gagnon ekg@waddingtons.ca 416-847-6184
BACK INSIDE COVER Lot 5 John Cross Model Totem Pole BACK COVER Lot 10 Unidentified Nuu-Chah-Nulth Artist Hollow-Back Model Totem Pole
1 MARK SPENCE (KWIN KWOYAH) (1878-1945), HAIDA MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint; unsigned; indistinct grease pencil inscription verso, including the letter “B”; “B1898 / #70” inscribed in grease pencil to underside 34.25 x 7.25 x 5.5 in — 87 x 18.4 x 14 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, New York, USA $10,000 — 15,000
2 UNIDENTIFIED ARTIST, IN THE KWAKWAKA’WAKW MANNER MODEL TOTEM POLE AFTER CHIEF WAKIUS POLE, ALERT BAY wood, paint; unsigned 39.5 x 8 x 6.5 in — 100.3 x 20.3 x 16.5 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, New York, USA $5,000 — 7,000
3 JAMES J. JAMES (JIMMY JAMES, GEORGE N. JAMES, “INDIAN PRESS AGENT”) (1894-1969), AMERICAN MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint; unsigned; stamped with artist’s stamp; inscribed “Indian Press Agent / 72830 s. ? Lincoln St. / Portland ? Oregon; inscribed “1860 / F 943” in pencil to underside 24.5 x 7.5 x 6.75 in — 62.2 x 19.1 x 17.1 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, New York, USA $3,000 — 5,000
4 RUFUS MOODY (1923-1998), HAIDA MODEL TOTEM POLE argillite; signed verso; also inscribed “Haida carving by Rufus Moody / Skidegate QCI / B.C. / 2” 22 x 4.25 x 5 in — 55.9 x 10.8 x 12.7 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, British Columbia $4,000 — 6,000
5 JOHN CROSS (1867-1939), HAIDA MODEL TOTEM POLE argillite; unsigned 9.25 x 2.25 x 2.25 in — 23.5 x 5.7 x 5.7 cm PROVENANCE:
Collection of Dr. Paul Dumas (1910-2005), Montreal, QC Private Collection, Quebec $2,000 — 4,000
6 UNIDENTIFIED HAIDA ARTIST HOLLOW-BACK MODEL TOTEM POLE argillite, wood; unsigned 11.75 x 2 x 2.75 in — 29.8 x 5.1 x 7 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Montreal, QC $2,000 — 3,000
7 CAPTAIN ANDREW BROWN (1879-1962), HAIDA MODEL TOTEM POLE argillite; erroneous artist identification on underside and back of pole; inscribed: “Eagle / Seal / Grizzly / Sea Otter / Grizzly Bear Holding Slave / Carved by John Cross Skidegate” 11 x 1.5 x 1.25 in — 27.9 x 3.8 x 3.2 cm PROVENANCE:
Collection of Dr. Paul Dumas (1910-2005), Montreal, QC Private Collection, Quebec $2,000 — 4,000
8 UNIDENTIFIED HAIDA ARTIST MODEL TOTEM POLE argillite; unsigned 10.5 x 3 x 3 in — 26.7 x 7.6 x 7.6 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Vancouver, BC $2,000 — 3,000
9 POSSIBLY UNIDENTIFIED ‘NAMGIS (KWAKWAKA’WAKW) ARTIST MODEL TOTEM POLE POSSIBLY AFTER KWAW’YIM (WHALE HOUSE POLE), ‘YALIS (ALERT BAY) wood, paint; unsigned; stamp verso reads “Jack” 31.25 x 10.5 x 5.25 in — 79.4 x 26.7 x 13.3 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, New York, USA $2,000 — 4,000
10 UNIDENTIFIED NUU-CHAH-NULTH ARTIST HOLLOW-BACK MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint; unsigned; stamp verso reads: “Jack” 33 x 4.75 x 4.5 in — 83.8 x 12.1 x 11.4 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, New York, USA $1,500 — 2,500
11 UNIDENTIFIED NUU-CHAH-NULTH ARTIST MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint; unsigned; old newspaper clipping by the Hudson Bay Fur Company titled “Totem Poles” adhered verso; old collector’s tag inscribed “Turn of century Nootka totem, sold by Hudson Bay Fur Company / Seattle Washington” 36.25 x 6.25 x 4.5 in — 92.1 x 15.9 x 11.4 cm PROVENANCE:
Husdon Bay Fur Company, Inc., Seattle, WA Private Collection, New York, USA $2,000 — 4,000
12 UNIDENTIFIED NUU-CHAH-NULTH ARTIST MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint; unsigned 49 x 8 x 5.75 in — 124.5 x 20.3 x 14.6 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, British Columbia $1,500 — 2,500
13 UNIDENTIFIED NUU-CHAH-NULTH ARTIST MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint; unsigned 24 x 4 x 4 in — 61 x 10.2 x 10.2 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, British Columbia $600 — 800
14 CHARLIE JAMES (YAKUGLAS) (1867-1938), KWAKWAKA’WAKW MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint; signed verso 10.5 x 3 x 3.25 in — 26.7 x 7.6 x 8.3 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, British Columbia $800 — 1,200
15 UNIDENTIFIED NUU-CHAH-NULTH ARTIST ARCHAIC MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, pigments; unsigned 24 x 2.25 x 1.375 in — 61 x 5.7 x 3.5 cm PROVENANCE:
By repute Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, Seattle, WA Private Collection, Ontario $600 — 800
16 TITUS CAMPBELL (1893-1966), TSIMSHIAN MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint; unsigned 15.25 x 4 x 4 in — 38.7 x 10.2 x 10.2 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, British Columbia $500 — 700
17 CHARLES JOSEPH (B. 1959), KWAKWAKA’WAKW LARGE TOTEM POLE wood, paint; signed verso 80 x 33 x 22 in — 203.2 x 83.8 x 55.9 cm PROVENANCE:
Commissioned directly from the artist Private Collection, British Columbia $5,000 — 7,000
18 DAVID MONPETIT (B. 1951), CANADIAN TOTEM, 1997 glass; initialled “M”; AP 1/3; dated 51.5 x 14.75 x 10 in — 130.8 x 37.5 x 25.4 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Ottawa, ON $2,000 — 3,000
19 UNIDENTIFIED ARTIST, POSSIBLY NUXALK (BELLA COOLA) LARGE MODEL HOUSE TOTEM POLE wood; unsigned; inscribed verso “Bella Coola House Portal B.C. red cedar / Cannibal / thunderbird / sun / wolf / wolf of wolf clan / eyes above sun are those of thunderbird denoted by feather under eye / Ber Narr” 48.5 x 13 x 5 in — 123.2 x 33 x 12.7 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Vancouver, BC $3,000 — 5,000
20 ELLEN NEEL (KAKASO’LAS) (1916-1966), KWAKWAKA’WAKW MODEL TOTEM POLE, 1957 wood, paint; signed and dated verso 14 x 12 x 4.75 in — 35.6 x 30.5 x 12.1 cm PROVENANCE:
Glen Mullen Collection, Colorado, USA Private Collection, Vancouver, BC $1,500 — 2,500
21 POSSIBLY ELLEN NEEL (KAKASO’LAS) (1916-1966), KWAKWAKA’WAKW MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, steel nail; unsigned 8.75 x 10 x 4 in — 22.2 x 25.4 x 10.2 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Illinois, USA $400 — 600
22 UNIDENTIFIED SALISH ARTIST MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint; unsigned 10.5 x 2.75 x 3.25 in — 26.7 x 7 x 8.3 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Seattle, WA Private Collection, Toronto, ON $400 — 600
23 IDA WILLIAMS & GEORGE WILLIAMS, NUU-CHAH-NULTH MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint; signed “Ida & George” verso 13 x 5.25 x 5.5 in — 33 x 13.3 x 14 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Toronto, ON $300 — 500
24 UNIDENTIFIED WILLIAMS FAMILY ARTIST, NUU-CHAH-NULTH MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint, Reckitt’s shirt bluing ; unsigned 12.75 x 12 x 2.5 in — 32.4 x 30.5 x 6.4 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Toronto, ON $300 — 500
25 TOM HANS (IYEA) (B. 1925), HAIDA MODEL TOTEM POLE argillite; signed verso 14.5 x 2.75 x 3.25 in — 36.8 x 7 x 8.3 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, British Columbia $1,000 — 1,500
26 CHARLIE MICKEY (B. 1919), NUU-CHAH-NULTH MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint; inscribed verso “frank / er” 16.75 x 5 x 3.25 in — 42.5 x 12.7 x 8.3 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Vancouver, BC $1,000 — 1,500
27 CHARLIE JAMES (YAKUGLAS) (1867-1938), KWAKWAKA’WAKW MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint; unsigned; collector’s tag to underside inscribed “Charlie James / carved c. 1900 / Fort Rupert / Kwakiutl” 17.5 x 3.5 x 4.5 in — 44.5 x 8.9 x 11.4 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, British Columbia $1,000 — 1,500
28 UNIDENTIFIED TLINGIT ARTIST MODEL TOTEM POLE wood; unsigned 21.25 x 3.5 x 2.75 in — 54 x 8.9 x 7 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, British Columbia $1,000 — 2,000
29 LESLIE JOHN (1928-1980), NUU-CHAH-NULTH MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, stain, steel nails; unsigned 37 x 30 x 8 in — 94 x 76.2 x 20.3 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Toronto, ON $500 — 700
30 UNIDENTIFIED HAIDA ARTIST MODEL TOTEM POLE, CA. 1890 argillite; unsigned 3.75 x 2.25 x 2 in — 9.5 x 5.7 x 5.1 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Montreal, QC $500 — 700
31 ELI TAIT (1872-1949), TSIMSHIAN MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint, steel nail; unsigned; old price inscribed in base “1.45” 8.75 x 2.5 x 2.5 in — 22.2 x 6.4 x 6.4 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Syracuse, NY Private Collection, Toronto, ON $400 — 600
32 GEORGE (SIWIS) NELSON (1884-1969), KWAKWAKA’WAKW MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint; unsigned 16 x 10.75 x 3.5 in — 40.6 x 27.3 x 8.9 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Toronto, ON $400 — 600
33 UNIDENTIFIED EARLY TLINGIT ARTIST, POSSIBLY CHARLES BENNETT (1882-1949) MODEL TOTEM POLE wood; unsigned 17 x 1.75 x 1.75 in — 43.2 x 4.4 x 4.4 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Toronto, ON $400 — 600
34 UNIDENTIFIED NUU-CHAH-NULTH ARTIST MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint, bark, steel nail; unsigned 9.5 x 1.75 x 2 in — 24.1 x 4.4 x 5.1 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Toronto, ON $300 — 500
35 UNIDENTIFIED NUU-CHAH-NULTH ARTIST MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint, steel nail; unsigned; verso bears graphite inscription “N04/12” and old newspaper clipping by the Hudson Bay Fur Company titled “Totem Poles” 17.5 x 2.25 x 2.5 in — 44.5 x 5.7 x 6.4 cm PROVENANCE:
Hudson Bay Fur Company, Seattle, WA Private Collection, Toronto, ON $400 — 600
36 ATTRIBUTED TO WILSON WILLIAMS (1908-1965), NUU-CHAH-NULTH MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, steel nail ; unsigned 13 x 3.5 x 2.5 in — 33 x 8.9 x 6.4 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Ontario $400 — 600
37 TOM HARRY, SKWXWÚ7MESH (SQUAMISH) MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint; signed verso 19.25 x 4.25 x 9.75 in — 48.9 x 10.8 x 24.8 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Ontario $200 — 300
38 DANNY JAMES, COAST SALISH MODEL TOTEM POLE wood; signed verso 11.75 x 3.5 x 3.5 in — 29.8 x 8.9 x 8.9 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, British Columbia $300 — 500
39 WILLIAM WATTS (B. 1965), NUU-CHAH-NULTH MODEL TOTEM POLE, 1979 wood, paint; signed and inscribed “Thunderbird, Wildman, 79, Coast Salish”; gallery label to underside 14 x 5 x 3.5 in — 33 x 12.7 x 8.9 cm PROVENANCE:
Marion Scott Gallery, Vancouver, BC Private Collection, British Columbia $100 — 200
40 UNIDENTIFIED ARTIST MODEL TOTEM POLE IN NORTHERN NORTHWEST COAST STYLE ivory; unsigned 4.5 x 1 x 1 in — 11.4 x 2.5 x 2.5 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Montreal, QC $200 — 300
41 UNIDENTIFIED TLINGIT ARTIST MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint; unsigned 12.75 x 2.75 x 2 in — 32.4 x 7 x 5.1 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Alberta $400 — 600
42 CAPTAIN ANDREW BROWN (1879-1962); UNIDENTIFIED HAIDA ARTIST TWO MODEL TOTEM POLES argillite; Captain Andrew Brown pole unsigned; other pole signed “M. Woodhou[?] / 1974” largest 4.75 x 1.25 x 1.25 in — 12.1 x 3.2 x 3.2 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Toronto, ON $300 — 500
43 POSSIBLY WILLIAM NAHANEE (B. 1941), SKWXWÚ7MESH (SQUAMISH) MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint; signed verso 17.5 x 4 x 3.5 in — 44.5 x 10.2 x 8.9 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Ontario $100 — 200
44 UNIDENTIFIED NUU-CHAH-NULTH ARTIST MODEL TOTEM POLE wood; unsigned 12.5 x 3 x 1.75 in — 31.8 x 7.6 x 4.4 cm PROVENANCE:
Collection of C. Frank Turner, Toronto, ON By descent to the present Private Collection, Toronto, ON $100 — 200
45 JOHN WILLIAMS (1960-2010), NUUH-CHAH-NULTH MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint; signed verso 13 x 12 x 3.25 in — 33 x 30.5 x 8.3 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Ontario $100 — 200
46 SHANDLEY WILLIAMS (1938-1986), DITIDAHT MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint; signed verso 13.25 x 12 x 3 in — 33.7 x 30.5 x 7.6 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Ontario $100 — 200
47 MARLIN ALPHONSE, COAST SALISH THUNDERBIRD MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint, steel nail; signed verso 13 x 12 x 3.25 in — 33 x 30.5 x 8.3 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Illinois, USA $80 — 100
48 GABE MOODY, SKWXWÚ7MESH (SQUAMISH) MODEL TOTEM POLE wood, paint, steel nail; signed; inscribed verso “Squamish Indian Carver / North Vancouver B.C. / Canada” 13 x 10 x 5.5 in — 33 x 25.4 x 14 cm PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Illinois, USA $80 — 100