HENRY HUNT
(Mu-Bin-Kim) (Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) 1923-1985)
Biography
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The Kwakiutl artist Henry Hunt was born in Fort Rupert, Vancouver Island, BC. He began as a part time carver in 1954 at the BC Provincial Museum and became chief carver in 1962 after the death of Mungo Martin. He worked with the Museum until 1974, much of the time spent carving totem poles with his mentor Mungo Martin and later with his eldest son Tony Hunt. He carved both for traditional ceremonial use as well as for sale. In 1970-71, Henry Hunt along with his son Tony Hunt carved a memorial 35-foot totem pole to Mungo Martin, the first pole to be erected in the Alert Bay graveyard in many years. Henry Hunt is revered as a totem carver, designer and carver of monumental Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) sculpture.
In the early 1960's Henry Hunt was approached by a ceramic crafts company and was encouraged to carve masks, dishes, poles, pins, buttons, etc, all of which were cast and sold widely as tourist items. Some of the products were painted in traditional Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) manner by Henry's wife Helen but by far the majority of the output was glazed in single colours. These pieces have since become quite collectible. The moulds were eventually sold and production ceased in the late 1960's. The collection featured totem poles, ceremonial masks, feast dishes, bowls, wall planters, salt and pepper shakers, ashtrays, miniature jewellery, and bookends. There was a choice of 15 colours for the glazed pieces; the jewellery items (earrings, brooches, cufflinks, tie bars and bolo ties) produced in porcelain had a choice of 8 colours.