Seeing the three seated figures again after such a long break is somehow reassuring. The two bears, one eating a frog, the other sitting with two cubs at its feet, look well. A raven with a human between its wings makes up the impressive trio of carved figures on the totem pole that arrived in Oxford a century ago to become the largest object at the Pitt Rivers Museum.
When the doors open again at the Pitt Rivers on May 1, others may feel similar relief to see the 40ft totem pole, with its crest figures, looming in the distance and keeping watch over this remarkable place.