This piece is currently displayed offsite. Please contact the gallery directly to arrange viewing.
1983
Edition 4/5
Reid’s stunning 22-karat gold sculpture, Chief of the Undersea World was crafted while he was working on one of his most famous works, the iconic 18-foot bronze of the same title that has been displayed at the Vancouver Aquarium since 1984. Both sculptures exhibit traditional Haida features, including the head shape, the face within the blowhole, and the intricate bas-relief designs along the dorsal fin and body. The design of the breaching whale was inspired by a Haida speaker's staff that Reid admired at the Smithsonian Museum.
A plaque near the bronze at the Vancouver Aquarium states: “Chief of the Undersea World, who from his great house raises the storms of the winter and brings the calm seas of the summer. He governs the cycle of the salmon and is the keeper of all the oceans' living treasures.” While the use of bronze and the “lost-wax” technique is relatively new to indigenous art, Bill Reid’s Chief of the Undersea World reflects traditional themes and styles, serving as a tribute to his heritage while blending contemporary and traditional elements.
This particular edition was in the collection of Canadian artist Ted Harrison for over twenty years. Harrison was represented by the Buschlen-Mowatt Gallery in Vancouver, which aimed to establish an international market for his work. Buschlen-Mowatt also represented Bill Reid, whom Harrison greatly admired. Through their shared representation, the two artists became acquainted. Harrison acquired this unique piece from Buschlen-Mowatt in the late 1980s or early 1990s, considering it a treasured addition to his personal collection. It was later acquired by a private collector, from whom the piece is currently being consigned with the gallery.
