Pipe

Argillite is a carbonaceous shale found at Slatechuck Mountain on Graham Island. It is clan-owned and therefore used only by clan members and their friends. Haida argillite carving activity began around 1820 as a commercial art form for sale to sailors and travellers, and has continued to be a commercial art aimed at a foreign market. Early in argillite carving tradition it became popular to combine native Haida themes with figures and motifs that were part of the European world. Panel pipes are one of many forms argillite takes, and they are rarely intended for smoking use.

Barnabas Courtland and Ida Freeman Collection.

commercial art

Crests represented particular kinship groups and may depict elements of myth. Juxtaposition of figures on pipe may represent a Haida myth, or may be the artist's own conception of a scene.

Carved argillite pipe consisting of an upside down bear with a human figure standing and leaning forward on the bear, holding broken bone? tool in his right hand. Attached to the figure is an eagle with open beak. Leaning back to back with the eagle is another human figure with his head facing upward, mouth open, holding his cheek with left hand. The second figure is wearing similar regalia to the first. The cylindrical shaped mouth piece emerges from the stomach of the second figure.