gyaaGang (Model Totem Pole)

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. 20 century pieces tend to incorporate highly individual departures from previous styles, reflecting in some cases a loss of tradition.

commercial art

Crests represented particular kinship groups and may depict elements of myth. Top figure possibly refers to myth in which Raven, in the form of the grandson of the owner of the sun or the moon, stole the sun from its box, flew through the smoke hole of the house with it, then threw it into the sky creating light in the world.

Carved argillite, miniature totem pole with flat back. The pole is rectangular in shape with a slight taper at the top and is seated on a rectangular base with rounded corners. The figures from top to bottom: seated human holding in front of him a small box with shallow incised design of human face; raven whose upturned tail is incised with ovoid and feathers, and wings incised with ovoid, split u, and feather design; sea bear with wide toothed mouth, upturned tail fin at front, and two small fins at side, one incised with ovoid and u form. Base in form of a frog with raised eyes.