Modular Totemic Sculpture in Shou Sugi Ban and Linseed Oil finish, based on 2x3/2x6/2x2 Douglas Fir blanks, as well as milled Black Locust body pieces. This sculpture and it’s box base are designed for indoor or outdoor display. Outdoor installation is best accomplished through setting the totem directly in concrete or, in many applications, by utilizing the included base. Once assembled, the sculpture stands roughly 81” tall. The 15” x 18” base should be filled with ballast (I favor black Ash Beach pebbles—$18/30 lb. bag at Home Depot) and it comes with adjustable feet to assist at arriving to a level stance on a hard outdoor surfaces or on floors and carpets indoors. (Note: for an additional fee of $125, the box base can be swapped out for a 12x12x3/4 steel plate base— see Totem #78 as an example.)
Carved construction, arrived through use of a variety of power and hand saws and grinders. Sanded then treated with live flame. The Shou Sugi Ban treatment and Linseed Oil finish ensure weatherproof lifespan. The sculpture is modular in that it comes in several pieces— a 76” 2x3 central body, a roughly 17” circular center piece, 2x8 head, 2x3 knee, 2x3 arm and a solid 2x2 dimensional curve— that all bolt easily together with existing fittings and hardware.
August 2025 Update included incorporation of brass accent and additional cross piece.
Will offer free, in-person delivery and placement for addresses within 3 hours of DC, with additional nominal fees for greater travel distances. Will offer free, in-person delivery and installation for addresses within 2 hours of DC, with additional nominal fees for greater travel distances. (Note: I have undertaken delivery and installations as far from DC as California. Any buyer wishing to discuss this kind of delivery/intallation service is welcome to reach out to discuss such options.) This sculpture can otherwise be safely and effectively shipped in two boxes, one 82” tube for the various body pieces and a second box for the base, center and head piece, hardware, and detailed assembly and installation instructions.
Finally, a more detailed word about shipping. Shipping these pieces is expensive, both for the transit and for the time and materials that goes into the packaging. Although free shipping is offered for CONUS destinations, please know that the actual shipping costs are *very* significant at my end, especially in light of the ongoing fuel price increases associated with current events. I find, however, that my absorbing any extra shipping cost is sufficiently outweighed by having a safe delivery and a happy buyer. Free CONUS US Shipping.
A note about Made-to-Order pieces. The concept of offering an item as “Made-to-Order” is to confirm that a specific piece described in a made-to-order listing has been sold but can readily be duplicated and issued under a new totem number. Pieces that are made-to-order are essentially commissioned sculptures that will closely adhere to the general size and style of the original piece. The best way to pursue a Made-to-Order totem is to reach out and express an interest in a particular design. I will then create a rough drawing and project proposal for your review and approval. Once I begin a commissioned piece, I send photos of the sculpture in various stages of progress. Payment for made-to-order items will occur once the piece is complete and a special listing has been created for check out.
Why My Totems Are Numbered and Not Named:
Totemic structures, arising independently across a myriad of civilizations and histories, are ancient and aspirational expressions. They were, I firmly believe, originally conceived to bring comfort and provide direction—both literally and figuratively—and to invite people to gather around a common center, triggering very personal and primal emotions. As such, my sense is that they tend to speak for themselves and derive no benefit from the application of any leading verbal cue or title.
