Methods for field research and analysis of ethnological collections are discussed. Preparatory research for the reproduction of the 19th-century Kwakiutl totem pole, the objective was to produce a reproduction which would accurately represent the technology and aesthetics of the original decoration. Investigation included: examination of photographs, consultation with curators, paint analysis, research on sources and types of paint available from 1880 to 1890 in British Columbia, interviews and collection reviews. The paper concludes with the results and the broader implications for the evolution of native art and artifacts in response to the influences of industry, technology, and museums. The author discusses the methodology of field research in conservation and suggests further applications for investigative conservation for native North American collections. (See AATA 26-660 for related abstract).