Chief Seattle, (sculpture).

Chief Seattle, (sculpture).

Wehn, James A., 1883-1973, sculptor.

Chief Seattle, (sculpture).

Commissioned 1907. 1908-1912.

Figure: cast bronze with gold leaf; Plaques: bronze; Bear heads: bronze; Base: granite.

Figure: life-size; Each plaque: approx. H. 2 ft. x W. 3 ft.; Each bear head: approx. Diam. 2 ft. x D. 1 ft.

(Across bottom of Kitsap plaque, incised:) KITSAP SIGHTS VANCoUVERS VESSEL 1792/FIRST VESSEL oN PUGET SoUND (Lower right corner of Kitsap plaque, incised:) WEHN (On upper portion of Seattle plaque:) SEATTLE/CHIEF oF THE SUQUAMISH/A FIRM FRIEND oF THE WHITES/FoR HIM THE CITY oF SEATTLE/WAS NAMED BY ITS FoUNDERS (Lower center of Seattle plaque, raised:) 1908 (Lower right corner of Seattle plaque, incised:) WEHN (Top of circular piece surrounding bear heads:) Wehn (On triangular metal plaque over one bear head, raised:) TILIKUM/PLACE

Figure of Chief Seattle with his proper right arm raised. On the base are two bear heads that serve as waterspouts, and two relief plaques. One plaque depicts Chief Kitsap watching Captain George Vancouver's ship arrive in Puget Sound in 1792. The other plaque depicts two salmon, which are flanking the inscriptions.

Portrait male -- Seattle, Chief -- Full length

Portrait male -- Kitsap, Chief -- Full length

Ethnic -- Indian

Waterscape -- Boat

Waterscape -- Sound -- Puget Sound

Outdoor Sculpture -- Washington -- Seattle

Administered by City of Seattle, Seattle Arts Commission, 312 1st Avenue North, Seattle, Washington 98109

Located Tillicum Square, 5th Avenue & Denny Way, Seattle, Washington

The artist based this statue on the only known photo of Chief Seattle (ca. 1790-1867), chief of the Suquamish tribe. This statue of the city's namesake was the first statue commissioned by the City of Seattle, and is located significantly at the historic juncture of the original land claims of three Seattle pioneers, Carson Boren, William Bell, and Arthur Denny. Funds for the statue came from the street improvement budget.

IAS files contain copies from James M. Rupp's "Art in Seattle's Public Places: An Illustrated Guide," Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1992, pg. 104 and 309, which include discussion of delays in the completion of the statue. For related publication see: Seattle Arts Commission, "A Field Guide to Seattle's Public Art," Seattle: Seattle Arts Commission, 1991, pg. 199.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Washington survey, 1994.

Rupp, James M., "Art in Seattle's Public Places: An Illustrated Guide," Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1992, pg. 104.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985.

University of Washington, Henry Gallery, 1976.

Rupp, James M., "Art in Seattle's Public Places: An Illustrated Guide," Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1992, pg. 104.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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