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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: agreeneyes on September 30, 2015, 02:25:03 PM
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This is an older Tlingit Indian Tribe 42 foot totem pole. It appears to be very old the paint is chipped and faded and there are splits in the wood and the eagle is missing it's beak. There is a bear, twin figures, a whale with a face on the tail, a chief ,another figure and an eagle w removable wings on top. I've tried researching what the value of this would be but have been unable to find out very much information. So once again I've come to the experts. If anyone can help with information I would like to know how old this dates and as it is an original Native American totem pole what the value would be. Thank you
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By the pictures it looks to be modern made. The paint looks too fresh and if it was old the white paint looks to bright and the colors too. Value wise not sure but if it does have condition issues which takes away value.
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When you say modern how old, thank you
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Whoa....Is this yours?
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Yes
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https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Tlingit+symbolism+on++totems
Here are some to compare it to !! Wood looks correct for age as well as I can see !!
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Hi, I appreciate the link. When you state wood looks correct for age, are you saying this is older possibly 100 years or so? I'm trying to find out it's age and value. It is definitely weathered from the elements and age. Paint is faded, wood is cracked and the eagle's beak is broken off the whales fin is attached but loose. I was only able to load 4 pictures. I can delete these and load others showing the figures close up? Thank you
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I mean the wood has aged sufficiently and the surface/paint looks worn enough to be correct for the stated age !! I didn`t see anything that looked new or freshly done !! Where did you get this thing ?? Kind of hard to find something like that at a garage sale or thrift store !! :D
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It is from Alaska from a Tlingit family member who decided to sell the totem pole and it was hauled from there by trailer. He had it raised and standing in front of his house to tell the stories passed down from his elders. I did find out that I was mistaken about the age as I also received paperwork stating the date it was raised which was in 1970 and explanations in story form of what the totem pole figures represent. I wasn't sure what the term raised signified until I did some research. The wood is so weathered from the Alaskan elements as it stood outside for many years so I thought it could be older. When it was sold and taken down it was just cut off from the bottom. The 5-6 foot piece of wood at the bottom that goes in the ground so the totem pole stands upright remained in the ground.
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HOLY TOLEDO!!! That is awesome! I hope you'll be able to keep it in your family. What a wonderful thing to have.
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Thank you
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So you mean the wood was cut and aged in Alaska well before the totem was created and raised at the family members house ??
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No, I'm not Tlingit we just knew of someone from the Native American Tlingits who was selling their totem pole in Alaska. This is not a tribe totem pole but a Tlingit families totem pole and their family member was selling it. This was carved and raised in Alaska in 1970 and has stood in front of the Tlingit families house in Alaska for many years. They cut it down instead of digging up the bottom that was in the ground. I hope this clarifies this a little better. I apologize for the confusion.
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Still awesome!
So, what are you going to do with it? Put it in your yard or sell it?
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We're going to try and sell it, this is why I wondering if anyone has any idea of value, thank you
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Well , sometimes the value is in the beholders' eyes ....
I do know a couple of N.W. 'first nations' totem carvers & they can get up to $500 per foot for a newly carved totem pole , and this is usually commissioned work for them , considering the cost , time & effort of producing one .
Not too much of a clue with non-antique prices though , sadly , agreeneyes .
Sure is a biggun !
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I do appreciate all of your information, thank you
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I have not found anything to give a possible value for one of this size !! The 10 ft. mew ones can run around $900. to $1500. !!
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The one thing I do know is this was personally commissioned and made for a member of the Tlingit tribe to display in front of his home. The figures represent the stories passed down from his elders and many generations. This wasn't made for tourist so there is a lot of history in this one. The only ones I know of this size still standing and displayed are in Alaska most are in national parks or museums.
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Sounds like this could be valued into the many thousands of $, even with the base broken off.
I would think the best thing to do would be to get a professional appraizer who specializes in Native American art to give you a value on this. In the long run, the best route might be to donate it to a facility where it could be displayed for everyone. I would investigate the tax implications of a gift like that....it MIGHT be the best way to go.
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I think I'm going to have to find a professional appraiser as I've been unable to locate anything online this size for sale for comparison. I do appreciate all of your help and information, thank you
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Let us know what they say !!
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I will, thank you
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If you bought it for a bargain and you are open to spend some $ to get it dated than I have a few tips for you.
The native Indians made their paint from flowers and other elements which they collected in nature.
You can send a few samples to a institute which also research antique paintings.
They will examine a few sample of different colors on what mixture ingredients the paint are based and will give you a date with a gap of circa 10± years.
If your lucky than it could be much older than 100 years.
good luck
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I appreciate the information, thank you
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http://www.alaskanativeartists.com/totem_poles.htm
Here are some Alaskan poles for sale and some info on artist.
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I contacted an online appraisal site and it was appraised for $40,000.00-$60,000.00 because of the some of the condition issues. They did tell me that right now there is quite an interest in Tlingit totem poles for collectors so we'll see what happens. Thank you for all of your help and information.
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Thanks for following up, and congratulations!
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Excellent !! Keep us updated !!
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I will, thank you
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SO exciting!!!!
I showed hubby and he shuddered to think that one day I would say....guess what I bought today? LOLOL Other than that he thought it was a-m-a-z-i-n-g!!
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I would have to come live with you KC if I brought something like that home from a garage sale !!