Plate

These poles were carved to be ornaments and art objects in non-Haida cultural context. Argillite carvings were first produced for trade to Europeans in the 1820's. Miniature argillite poles were first carved in the 1870's.

Argillite was purchased by John Davidson from Birks Co. in approximately 1964.

commercial art

Crests represented particular kinship groups and may depict elements of myth.

Plate is shape of rectangle with convex curved side. Upper surface slightly concave, under surface tapered to smaller flat base of same shape. Upper surface carved in design of eagle and whale. Remaining areas filled with crosshatching. Border where not covered by figures is carved with a pattern of continuous half-ellipses. Rim, 1.3 cm wide, is uncarved, inlaid with circular pieces of abalone at 1.3 cm in diameter at mid-point of each side. Incised on under-surface is 'Pat Dixon Skidegate B.C. 1971'.