The Jasper Chronicles-Part 6: The "Point Cabin" Mosaic – Arthur Price’s Functional Sculpture

I spent years admiring the unique textures of the Jasper Park Lodge’s Grand Hall, but I never dreamed I would one day own a piece of that legacy. This console and mirror aren't just furniture; they are functional sculptures created by Arthur Price, one of Canada’s most significant 20th-century artists.



A Titan of Canadian ArtIn the world of Canadian heritage, Arthur Price (1918–2008) is a titan. While he is celebrated for his large-scale sculptures in Ottawa and his work restoring the totem poles at UBC, his most "intimate" legacy lives within the walls of the Jasper Park Lodge.
The son-in-law of legendary ethnologist Marius Barbeau, Price spent his life documenting and celebrating the "soul" of Canada. While his monumental works—like the spheres at the National Research Council—speak to Canada’s industrial future, his work at JPL speaks to our primal roots.


The 1970s "Modern Totemic" MovementIn the 1970s, JPL transitioned from the "frontier" look of the past toward a "Modern Lodge" aesthetic. They commissioned Price to create furniture that wasn't just functional, but told a story of the Canadian wilderness. His work for the JPL Signature Cabins—likely the Point or Outlook Cabin—is where his love for raw materials truly shines.


The Mosaic TechniqueIf you look at the top of this console table, you aren't just looking at wood; you're looking at a wood mosaic. Price took harvested birch and willow, cut them into precise segments, and laid them out in a mesmerizing geometric pattern. This was a revolutionary way to handle "bark-on" material, turning rustic branches into a sophisticated tapestry.
Price wasn't just being decorative; he was the Canadian leader of a global movement to find beauty in "found" materials. By cutting the birch into these "coins" and diamonds, he proved that the bark of a tree was as beautiful as a fine textile.


A Pioneer in PreservationPrice was a pioneer in stabilizing organic materials. Usually, "bark-on" furniture from the 70s has long since peeled or cracked. The fact that this set remains impeccable is a credit to Price’s background in industrial design; he knew exactly how to cure wood to survive the notoriously dry mountain air of Jasper for over 50 years.


A Fragment of the Point CabinWord from JPL insiders suggests these pieces were originally commissioned for the Point Cabin. As one of the "Royal" suites of the park, these were high-society retreats where the furniture had to be as impressive as the guests.
The raw back of the console is my favorite detail—it’s the "architectural thumbprint" of the Lodge. It tells us this table wasn't just placed in a room; it was born there, custom-fitted to sit flush against the massive log walls of a Signature Cabin.


The Heaviest LiftRick and I can personally attest to the solid-core construction of 1970s Price furniture! Getting this piece into its new home was a physical reminder of the craftsmanship involved. It wasn't built to be moved; it was built to last centuries.
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The Full Circle MomentStanding under the Chevron-patterned mirror, the console table feels less like furniture and more like a bridge to the 1950s totem restorations Price performed on the very same grounds.
Having these pieces sit in our home feels like holding a timeline of Canadian identity. From Price’s 1970s mosaic experiments to the refined elegance of the 90s Ascroft pieces, the Lodge has always been a sanctuary for true craftsmanship. These pieces now have a permanent place where they can truly shine.

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