EDWARD S. CURTIS. Plate 343 Kwakiutl House-Frame, 1914. 11.8x15.3" image on 14x17" copper plate. Plate date 1915. From Portfolio 10, Kwakiutl, of The North American Indian. Engraved on plate recto: Plate 343/ Kwakiutl House-Frame /From Copyright Photograph 1914 by E.S. Curtis/Photogravure John Andrew & Son.

This auction highlight is one of Curtis's most famous abstractions.

Curtis wrote about this: "The two long beams in the middle are twin ridge-timbers, which are supported in the rear, as in the front, by a transverse beam resting on two uprights. At the extreme right and left are the eaves-timbers. The longitudinal and circular flutes of the columns are laboriously produced by means of a small hand-adze of primitive form. This frame is at the village Memkumlis. Another view is given in the illustration facing page 36. Kwakiutl houses are discussed on page 6: The superstructure of a Kwakiutl House is supported by heavy cedar posts. In the notched tops of the hewn side posts, usually six in number, rest two eaves-timbers extending from the rear to the front. Another hewn post supports the ends of the gable timbers in the rear wall, and two others perform a similar service at the sides of the door in the front wall."

Very Good. Minor scratches, tarnish, dents, abrasions small dark spots, and ink residue throughout plate surface.