Bracelet

Metalwork has a long history in copper and iron on the Northwest Coast. Silver and gold American coins—from which the early Haida bracelets were made—were scarce along the Northwest Coast until the 1860s. Ginaawaan would have been one of the first generation of silversmiths, as he was already accomplished by his death in 1876.

The artist would have hammered out the silver or gold coins, or first melted them into ingots, and then engraved them. A number of the bracelets from the late 19th century show imagery reflecting Euro/American influences of the time, such as the American eagle, or foliate motifs.

Gold bracelet with engraved motif of deer and foliate.