Totem Faces - Flagstaff, Arizona - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

These two carved totem faces are very difficult to find! This sculpture is #8 on the Self-guided walk of the Riordan Estate Grounds, and the description on the pamphlet says the following: "If you look carefully at the protruding log ends on the second floor of the house you will see two carved totem faces. Michael Riordan was inspired by Native American cultural traditions of the U.S. Northwest coast."

Without this description I would have had a very difficult time finding the faces! One of the faces shows a man with all his teeth showing. The other looks like a mad warrior with tusks coming out of his upper lip and bad teeth. It's nice to see two completely different carvings on the beams of the house.

From the Smithsonian Art database:

Description:

Two totem faces carved into the ends of protruding false wooden beams on the side of a house. Each face has different characteristics.

Dimensions:

2 faces. Each face: approx. D. 1 ft. x Diam. 10 in.

Remarks:

The faces are located high on the west wing of the Riordan mansion. The faces were commissioned by Mike Riordan and were designed by a Native-American medicine man to keep away evil spirits. The Riordan mansion was built in 1904.

Link to Riordan Mansion State Historic Park:
(visit link)

TITLE: Totem Faces ARTIST(S): Unknown (Native American), sculptor. DATE: Unknown MEDIUM: Painted wood CONTROL NUMBER: IAS AZ000620 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: Riordan State Park - Northern Arizona University 409 W. Riordan Road, Flagstaff, 86001 DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: none

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