#5 • Tlingit Beaver Decorative House Post Totem - Rich Lavalle

Part of June 2025 Premier Auction (live auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

High bid $500.00

Status: Sold

Category: Ethnographic Objects

A hand carved and painted Tlingit cedar decorative house post with beaver image in shades of black, brown, red, and teal; the sizable teeth are white, and the eyes are abalone as shown. In Pacific Northwest Coast indigenous cultures, the beaver is a symbol of industriousness, adaptability, and perseverance, while also teaching the importance of teamwork and the unique contributions each individual brings to a shared goal. As a builder of mind, body, and spirit, the Beaver represents creativity, purposeful action, and harmony; its tireless work ethic serves as a model of dedication and follow-through. Signed en verso by the adopted Tlingit craftsman Rich Lavalle (b.1945), an artist of Swedish and French Canadian ancestry, who was formally adopted by the Tlingit George Family of Angoon, Alaska, after having spent twenty-five years deeply involved in their culture. Prepared for hanging, the post measures approximately 8" x 15" x 21.5" tall.