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Vintage Eric Williams Totem Pole Ditidaht Nuu-chah-nulth Native Signed Carving
Category:
Collectibles > Cultures & Ethnicities > Native American: US > 1935-Now > Fetishes & TotemsArtisan / Carver: Eric Williams
Tribal Affiliation: Ditidaht / Nuu-chah-nulth / First Nations
Culture: Native American / Northwest Coast
Handmade: Yes
Material: WoodArtist & LineageEric Williams is a prominent carver from the Ditidaht First Nation (part of the broader Nuu-chah-nulth people on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia).The Williams Carving Legacy:
Eric comes from one of the most famous lineages of Northwest Coast model totem pole carvers.The tradition began with his great-grandfather, Sam Williams (1884–1979), who started carving for Seattle’s iconic Ye Olde Curiosity Shop in the early 20th century.His father was Raymond Williams (1933–1988), who taught Eric the intricate family style.Artistic Hallmark: Eric’s work is characterized by deep relief carving, high attention to structural detail, and clean, expressive traditional figures.Unlike many commercial pieces, he frequently carves the full list of represented animal totems directly into the back alongside his signature.Era / Age
Estimated Production Era: Late 1970s to 1990s.Key Indicators: The aged patina of the wood, the style of hand-incised lettering on the back, and similar documented pieces dated between 1981 and the mid-1990s confirm this era.