When I was about 6 or 7 my dad would regularly buy Britains Farm, Zoo, Army and Cowboy figures for me and my sisters and Miniature Garden specifically for them. I think it was another way of vicariously enjoying toys for him, as I never really played with the cowboys and indians, much preferring the army soldiers. However, I was always fascinated by the native american figures and specifically the totem pole ( coloured one in centre of photo). My dad helpfully painted it with Airfix enamels - the ones in the small glass bottles - in bright colours.
Years later, my mum brought me a weird black resin Totem Pole from a local market as she knew I loved primitive art.
The only identification was an inscribed word on the base - 'Boma'. I put it on a shelf and forgot about any real significance until around 2000 when I began surfing ebay. One day out of boredom, I looked for Boma Totems and a whole world opened up in front of me.
Boma is a small manufacturing company that recreates original designs made in argyllite by pacific coastal tribes, as souvenirs for tourists in British Columbia and Alaska. Within minutes, I was hooked on the fabulous designs of thunderbirds, killer whales and ravens and naturally bought one or two. then one or two more. Today, I have around 200 different types of souvenir pole and cannot display more than one or two, so I created a blog on which I photographed and posted each one, for my own amusement and to record an online catalogue, so I didn't accidentally buy the same one twice! Needless to say I have.
Recently, I picked up a beautiful hand carved wooden pole by a local artist for a few pounds and it rekindled my interest once more, so I decided to update the blog. Land of the Thunderbird is basically an online catalogue with notes and pictures, which i will add to on a regular basis, untill my entire collection is back online, where I can look upon these wonders and enjoy them in the same vicarious fashion my dad must have as he watched from his armchair as I lined up my Britains and Timpo cowboys.
Marvellous stuff Bill - absolutely wonderful to see.
ReplyDeleteA few words of explanation/identification would be nice for the uninitiated (me :) but even without those it's looking very good indeed!
Thanks for showing them off and looking forward to see more -- Paul
As I say, its really an online visual catalogue and most of the time, explanatory info is had to come by. I can identify various themes and shapes, but actual information on production and original design is scarce, as most of the pieces are bought loose, with no packaging. Its a work in progress though, so watch this space.
ReplyDeleteFascinating stuff Bill. I know I once had a plastic totem pole, probably by Britains and when I visited Canada in 1976 I bought a souvenir black one as a souvenir.
ReplyDeleteLuckily the urge to collect totems was quashed years ago when visiting the British Museum in London. If one entered by the back door, normally reserved for school parties, and climbed the stairs to the right you walked around a huge totem pole presented to HM the Queen by her loyal NW Canadian subjects. The pole was several stories high and if HMQ couldn't find room at home for it, this was not something I needed to start collecting.
The nice thing is the carvings done by present day native Americans is folk art not just commercially produced in China souvenirs so this colection is valid as art not just curios.
Unless I'm mistaken the important persons on a totem pole are at the bottom, not the top.
Congratulations on such a nice collection.
Not sure if you're aware, Bill, but Madelman's Western Series also included a Totem pole in its excellent Native American range. Another one to watch out for, perhaps? :)
ReplyDeleteIve seen that huge totem in the BM Terra, a huge piece indeed. Ive got photographs of it somewhere. Tony - a Madelman one ? awesome. Ive got a Marx, Playmobil, Schleich and a couple of other toy ones, so that madelman one will have to go on the wants list!
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