In a recent article discussing Special Agent Dale Cooper’s nightstand in Room 315 at The Great Northern Hotel, I spotted a Native American figurine. This statue only appears in episode 2.005 and is never seen again. Following a quick internet search, I identified and purchased one for my ever-growing Twin Peaks replica prop collection. Here’s some details in case you want one too.
NATIVE AMERICAN STATUE ON COOPER’S NIGHTSTAND
The Native American statue was manufactured by Universal Statuary Corp based in Chicago, Illinois around 1972. It was number 225, which probably refers to the model from their production catalog.
The resin-like figurine shows a Native American male sitting in full headdress and holding a pipe.
There wasn’t much information I could find about Universal Statuary Corp from a Wikipedia entry. There was, however, plenty examples of their work available for sale via online auction sites.
In the 1930s, Jack and Leo Lucchesi founded Universal Statuary Corp in a multi-story building on Chicago Avenue in Chicago, Illinois (sadly, I was unable to locate any photos of them). Jack focused on the business, while Leo ran the production line. Since Jack’s wife was from Guatemala, the company hired many Guatemalan and Italian immigrants to design their chalkware and plaster products.
At first, they produced plaques, piggy banks, and large in-store displays. Their work also included Native American statues for western themed restaurants. The company was also famous for the contract work performed for Sears, Wards and many big advertising firms for their unique ‘Point Of Sale’ displays and promotions.
By the 1950s, the relocated their company to 850 N. Ogden Avenue in Chicago where they began making chalkware lamps and many notable home decor products that are beloved by kitschy collectors today. The Lucchesi brothers also began working with experimental composites, transitioning from chalkware to resins. They created a material called “FiberClad InFrangible”, and guaranteed it would not break or chip. By the 1970s, items were being made with plastic.
The Lucchesi family sold the company in the early 1980s, which was eventually moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Mid-Centurian.com posted a story from Cal in 2003 who worked with Universal Statuary Corp. It’s a fascinating anecdote about this company that filled many homes with these decorative treasures. Click on the image above to enlarge.
WHO DESIGNED THE NATIVE AMERICAN FIGURE FROM COOPER’S NIGHTSTAND?
From my research, I believe that Vaughn Maxwell Kendrick designed this figurine. Cal’s anecdote above mentions an artist named “Kendrick.”
While my figurine was unsigned, I found several examples of Native American figurines signed “V. Kendrick.”
A quick search on Geni.com uncovered this page about Mr. Maxwell. He was born on January 5, 1917 in Chicago and died on June 21, 2002 in Pacific Grove, California. It’s mentioned that he worked as a sculptor. I wish I had a photo of him to include in this story but I couldn’t find a thing.
Most likely, Chief Joseph from the Nez Perce tribe was the inspiration for this figurine. Compare this 1903 image from Britanica.com with the face of the figurine possibly sculpted by Mr. Maxwell.
The facial expression combined with his attire leads me to believe the figurine was a nod to Chief Joseph. Here are a few different views:
APPEARANCE IN TWIN PEAKS – NATIVE AMERICAN FIGURE ON COOPER’S NIGHTSTAND
Shortly after the opening credits, we get a look at Cooper’s nightstand. He reaches for his tape recorder to send an early morning note to Diane. This is the only time we see the figurine in his room.
The next time we see his nightstand is episode 2.008 and the figurine has been replaced by a different one.
NATIVE AMERICAN CONNECTION TO TWIN PEAKS
So why does this figurine appear in only episode 2.005? There is no mention of the figurine in the script. The only connection I can make is to Deputy Hawk, who opens the episode recounting his visit the Palmer’s summer home to Sheriff Truman and ends the episode by saving Truman and Cooper from a One Eyed Jack’s bodyguard.
But here’s where it gets wonderful and strange.
On page 198 of Mark Frost’s “The Secret History of Twin Peaks,” we learn that Deputy Hawk is full-blooded Nez Perce.
“A detail of interest: Tommy Hill was a full-blooded Nez Perce whose parents left their reservation years earlier – just before the Hanford nuclear site came online, luck for them. His father, Henry, was a fearless, legendary tree-topper – guys who climb the highest trees with cleats on their boots and trim the tops. Henry tree-topped for the Packard Mill his entire career – which is, according to the Department of Labor and Statistics, the most dangerous job in the world – without ever suffering an injury.”
Michael Horse, who played Deputy Hawk, also voices Chief Jospeh (!!) in the audio book for Frost’s “Secret History.”
Granted, the “Twin Peaks Access Guide to the Town” states that Hawk was the son of a Zuni Shaman (page 35), and in episode 1.003, he speaks of a Blackfoot legend about dream souls (the Blackfoot tribe was an enemy of the Nez Perce).
Nevertheless, we see a connection to the Nez Perce side of Hawk in Season 3.
In Twin Peaks – Part 6, we see Deputy Hawk find an Indian head coin in the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s department bathroom.
This coin causes Hawk to spot a metal “Nez Perce Manufacturing” label on the bathroom stall door where he finds pages of Laura Palmer’s diary.
The Nez Perce Manufacturing sign seems to be created for the series (I couldn’t find a matching company). But note who is pictured on the label – it appears to be Chief Joseph or a figure that looks very similar to the figurine from episode 2.005.
It’s things like this that make like Twin Peaks even more.
