Vintage Original Signed ('Nick Bott') Oil Painting of Haida Skidegate Totem Pole

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Vintage Original Signed ('Nick Bott') Oil Painting of Haida Skidegate Totem Pole:
$125.00

On offer is a wonderful original oil on board totem pole painting rendered in a fabulous range of colours from the mottled dusty pink sky to the violet hued forest backdrop and the pole in black, bright orange, greens, yellows, brown and purple.
Measures 18"/ 46 cm wide x 24" / 61 cm long.
Originally purchased at sale in Vancouver, B.C.
Signed in the lower right hand 'Nick Bott'. I have several fantastic oil painting by the Dutch born Canadian West Coast artist 'NicholasJ. Bott' whose work is represented in the top galleries in Seattle, Vancouver and Calgary. Are Nick Bott and Nicholas J. Bott one and the same? I have attempted to find out but as of yet none of the galleries carrying the latter's work have responded to my queries. I think that they are the same artist but buyers and buyers must come to their own conclusion on this piece.
There are distinct reasons why I believe as I do. The subject matter for one. Both are interested in the use of vibrant colours, work with a slightly abstracted form of impressionism and Nicholas Bott favours west coast landscapes and motifs.
Nicholas Bott was born in the Netherlands in 1941 and grew up clearly inspired by the Dutch Masters. Emigrated to Canada in the late '50's, before the age of 20 and studied art at both the University of British Columbia and later the prestigious 'Chicago School of Art' where he received a diploma.
As his style evolved he moved from studying the Flemish masters to a fine appreciation of the works of the Canadian 'Group of Seven' showing him the merit in simplifying his shapes and allowing his brushwork to communicate the energy of nature.
On the back of the canvas, written in pencil, beside Title is 'Skidegate B.C. (Q.C.I.) QCI, of course, referring to the Queen Charlotte Islands, now called Haida Gwaii, off the coast of British Columbia and home to the Haida tribal nation. Skidegate, located on Graham Island, was so named in the early 19th century for a village chief. It was a hub for the active trade in otter furs.
The pole depicted on this painting is actually a mortuary pole and this painting is of an actual pole in Skidegate. I will include copies of old photos of the actual pole. It was raised for Skedans, head chief of Skedans village. On the plaque was a moon with a thunderbird face and on the post is a grizzly at the bottom and a mountain goat above with its two horns extending frontwards. Both of these were totemic crests of Skedans. (Bott has used artistic license in adding the crests on the sides of the plaque…)
This type of mortuary pole is typically Haida. The burial box held the remains of a chief or person of high rank, the remains being placed in the box a full year after the death. The box would be hidden from view by a frontal board, painted and carved with a lineage crest, as here. The shape and design of the board gave the appearance of a large chest.
This painting is in very good condition, albeit unframed and looks stunning when displayed on the wall. Highly collectible as a piece of art but would also make a wonderful backdrop to a collection of Pacific North West Coast tribal artifacts.