- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Argillite ship pipe carved with an image of a white man with wings, floral motif and a mythical winged creature.
- Long description
- Argillite ship pipe carved with an image of a white man with wings, floral motif and a mythical winged creature. The ship pipe has been carved in an open-work fashion from a single piece of argillite. The base is carved to represent a ship's wooden hull, and curves upwards at one end to represent the ship's prow. Leaning again the prow is a colonial figure in a long coat, trousers, spats and shoes, with his arms extended to the front and resting on the top of the prow. The man may represent the figurehead on a ship. In his hands is the pipe bowl (there is no mouth piece to connect the bowl to). His hair is detailed and long wings extend from his back across the top of the pipe. Under the wings is a large floral motif, perhaps representing native tobacco given the leaf and berry designs. On the other side of the floral motif is a four-legged animal with head facing upward and tongue extended. The sides of the body are decorated with cross-hatching and long, curving lines, perhaps suggesting a winged, mythical creature. The animal is surrounded by a geometric form which likely represents the stern of the ship. [CAK 08/06/2009]
- Geographical reference
- Cultural groups
- Haida
- Person
- Field collector Henry Nottidge Moseley
- Field collector HMS Challenger
- PRM source Amabel Nevill Sollas
- Date / Period
- Date made: 1830-1860
- Date collected
- ? 1872 - 1876
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 1915
- Materials and processes
- Material Argillite Stone, Process Carved
- Dimensions
- Width: max 114 mm, Length: max 235 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1915.25.5
- Research and responses
The following information comes from Haida delegates who worked with the museum’s collection in September 2009 as part of the project “Haida Material Culture in British Museums: Generating New Forms of Knowledge”:
This pipe was viewed alongside other argillite carvings on Tuesday Sept 15, 2009. Delegates noted that the bottom edge of the pipe represents the keel of a ship. What appear to be wings on the human were suspected to reflect European influence and ideas of angels. Christian White thought one of the figures appears to be like a sphinx with a Haida-style eye. He wondered if the plant in the centre of the scene is a date palm. He thought it probable that this pipe depicts an image of the holy land. Jason Alsop noted that Haida carvers were influenced by images in books and objects seen on ships.
A group discussion about argillite raised the following points. Argillite is only carved on Haida Gwaii. It is a natural resource of the islands, is very brittle and difficult to carve. Black is the most common variety, but rarer red and brown varieties also exist. It requires a skillful hand to carve it successfully. In addition to early trading, argillite served an important purpose during difficult years in Haida communities. Even when not skillfully executed, argillite allowed carvers to record stories and oral histories, like previous generations did in wood before them; they were able to preserve a significant amount of information that might otherwise have been lost. Argillite also provided a medium for Haidas to be satirical about the Europeans they were encountering.[CAK 13/05/2010]
The PRM label and previous database notes suggest this is "part" of a pipe, or "pieces" of pipe. However the pipe, although incompletely drilled, appears to be intact in its entirety: the end of the pipe with the man reflects the prow of a ship, while the opposite end has no signs of breakage and reflects the aft cabin of a ship. [CAK 08/06/2009]
For additional information on argillite ship pipes, see Robin K Wright's article "Haida Argillite Ship Pipes" on pages 40-47 of American Indian Art Magazine, Winter 1979, volume 5 issue 1. [CAK 08/06/2009]
Search terms: Figure, Trade, Pipe, Animal Figure
