Preston Singletary

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Raven and the Box of Daylight

Lead Crystal
37.5" x 8.5" x 6.25"

This totem is based on the iconic Tlingit story of Raven and the Box of Daylight, which tells the story of Raven who brings light via the moon, stars and sun to a previously dark world. At the top of this totem is the mischievous Raven holding the sun, while the wealthy man and his daughter stand on the box of daylight. The original wood totem was carved by David Franklin.

Two Ravens

Lead Crystal
35.5" x 8.5" x 9"

This totem represents the coming together of Singletary's Tlingit culture and his wife’s Swedish culture. The top figure represents Åsa, Singletary's wife, and directly below her is Odin, the Norse god flanked by two ravens at the front of a Swedish style long boat, below them are Singletary's children and family dog. The original wood totem was carved by David Svenson.

Meditations With Fire

Lead Crystal
37.5" x 8" x 6"

This is the Glass Blower totem. In the center you can see Singletary holding a glass blowing pipe and riding a Killer Whale which is his crest symbol. He is nestled in an Octopus or Kraken which symbolizes the fluid nature of molten glass. The bird figure toward the top is an Eagle which is the moiety that is Singletary's side of the Tlingit tribe. In between the Eagles wings represents a dearly departed friend, Joe Benvenuto. The original wood totem was carved by David Franklin.

Killer Whale Totem

Lead Crystal
36" x 11" x 8"

This totem includes Singletary's moiety (Eagle) on top, and his clan crest (the Killer Whale) in the center. A Thunderbird, emerges from the mouth of the Killer Whale. This Thunderbird represents David Swenson’s crest symbol, Svenson is the carver of the original wooden totem pole version and one of Singletary’s mentors. At the bottom of the totem is the Wolf design, the original moiety for the tribe, which was replaced by the contemporary depiction of an Eagle. The original wood totem was carved by David Svenson.

Fog Woman

Lead Crystal
35.25" x 11.5" x 7"

"Fog Woman” represents the story of Raven who married Fog Woman from the cloud world. He promised the father of that realm that he would take care of and always respect his daughter. It was a time of famine and the woman started to twine together cedar bark. This enraged Raven and he became angry with her. She told him to be patient and over time she wove together a beautiful vessel and dipped it into a stream. Salmon appeared in the basket and Raven was happy again because he had something to eat. Fog Woman started walking away, she wanted to return to her father’s world in the sky, and as Raven chased after her, she dissipated back into fog and returned home. The original wood totem was carved by David Franklin.

Transforming Killer Whale

Lead Crystal
35.5" x 10" x 10"

This piece represents a story from the Nuu Chah Nulth tribe, depicting a supernatural white wolf that transforms into a Killer Whale. The wolf gives power to a man by transforming in front of him. The details of each animal morph together in the midst of transforming while the shaman face emerges from top center in between the tail flukes. The original wood totem was carved by Joe David.

Woodcarver's Totem

Lead Crystal
25" x 5" x 6"

This totem is an homage to all the woodworkers on the Northwest coast. At the top of this totem is a pileated woodpecker. Next, is a human woodcarver with his tools flanked by woodworms. The bottom figure is a beaver with sapsuckers in the ears. In the back of the pole is a little bear, who rips up rotten logs for the woodworms to get into. The original wood totem was carved by David Franklin.

Transforming Killer Whale

Lead Crystal
13.75" x 7" x 5"

This piece represents a story from the Nuu Chah Nulth tribe. It’s a supernatural white wolf that transforms into a Killer Whale. The wolf gives power to a man by transforming in front of him. The details of each animal morph together in the midst of transforming while the shaman face emerges from top center in between the tail flukes. The original wood totem was carved by Joe David.

Killer Whale Totem

Lead Crystal
18" x 6" x 4"

This represents a Killer Whale, with the head down and the tail at the top. The two figures could be looked at as ancestral figures, holding a rolled back dorsal fin, and along the sides are pectoral fins. The original wood totem was carved by David Franklin.

Kéet

Lead Crystal
20" x 7" x 5"

Kéet is the Tlingit word for Killer Whale, which represents Singletary's main crest symbol, with the moiety of the Eagle on the top of the totem. The small figures are bears, which relate to the story of Singletary's great grandmother who, as a small girl, had a grizzly bear cub as a pet at the turn of the century in Sitka, AK. The original wood totem was carved by David Franklin.

Lead Crystal Totems


These totems by Preston Singletary are cast in lead crystal in various colors within each limited edition. The original wood models for each piece were carved by different woodcarver's including Joe David, David Svenson and David Franklin. Each totem reflects a particular story while featuring Singletary’s distinctive formline design. A variety of these lead crystal totems are on view at galleries that represent Preston Singletary.

Learn more about Singletary's monumental "Family Story Totem" and "Killer Whale Totem" each cast in lead crystal and standing at over 7 feet tall under the "Commissions" section.

117 East Louisa Street #394 Seattle, WA. 98102 | (206) 545-0555

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