Totem 10

The Bear and Frog totem for Sidney, B.C. is one of Tony Hunt’s first independent commissions. The pole is 12 feet high and is dominated by the image of a bear, in the Kwakiutl style. The carver added the frog as a secondary theme as he was familiar with carving this figure. The totem is now over 50 years old and is in good condition for its age.

Tony Hunt was a Hereditary Chief of the Kwakiutl people (Kwakwaka'wakw) of Fort Rupert and Kingcome Inlet, B.C. and came from a family of totem pole carvers. His grandfather was instrumental in recreating the art at the BC Museum Thunderbird Park in Victoria. His father Henry Hunt took over the lead role in 1962. At Thunderbird Park Tony and his brothers Stanley and Richard learned the art of carving traditional totem poles. He went on to create over 100 carvings and is famous around the world. He died in 2017, shortly after the death of his son, Tony Hunt, Junior.