Pair of Lions

Northwest Coast carvers were occasionally asked to produce specific items or objects, such as house or totem pole models, or as in this case, a matched pair of African lions (British style). Carving most likely from a photograph or book illustration, the artist has rendered a totally foreign subject in a manner that combines naturalism with some traditional Northwest Coast style facial features. They present a somewhat startling and engagingly benign personification of a powerful carnivore. The style of the work appears to be from the northern Northwest Coast, but a specific tribal style in not obviously apparent. The nose, whiskers, and mane are fairly naturalistic, while the stylization of the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth most identify the Northwest Coast origin. The faces are very mask-like, in profile revealing a curved line from forehead to nose to chin.  This suggests the northern coastal origin, as southern mask profiles are generally more linear. The nature of the mouth/chin area and its relationship to the eye socket suggest a Haida or Coast Tsimshian artist.

The flowing mane and tufted tail tip are handled in part like the pseudo-European foliate carving of some silver and gold Native bracelets, with their characteristic bevels, ridges, and short dash cuts. The recurved and pierced-through tail and tuft are not unlike some aspects of early argillite carvings. Perhaps this artist also was a bracelet or argillite carver, further suggesting Haida origins for the pieces.

Each of the lion’s legs is added on with iron fasteners, and some effort has been made to give the impression of non-static motion. The limbs are set at slightly differing angles as if the lions are taking a step. The sculpture of the faces has captured a very poignant and enigmatic expression. Very lifelike, not really fierce, they appear confident and curios about the new world for which they have been created.