ARGILLITE is a shale stone known as ‘Kwawhlahl’ among the Haida people, and they began carving it in response to the early curio trade of the 1820s on the Haida Gwaii Islands. Today, Argillite continues to protected and carved exclusively by the Haida.
-
Shaman Sculpture
Gryn White
$8,600.00 CADArgillite, Catlinite, Abalone shell
Shamans, or Medicine Men & Women, were typically a chief of the village or a person of high-ranking stature who followed the directions given by their spirit helper.
-
Raven with Light Sculpture
Christian White
Price upon requestArgillite, Catlinite, Mother of Pearl, Abalone shell -
Wasgo Pendant
Gryn White
$180.00 CADArgillite, Catlinite, Abalone shell
Revered as a great hunter, the Sea Wolf (Wasgo) was often associated with a special spirit power that man had to acquire to become a successful hunter. Four features that the Sea Wolf can be identified by are an elongated snout with flared nostrils, several large teeth (which may include canines), prominent ears, and a curled-over tail. Crucially, the mythical Sea Wolf is often indicated by the addition of fins or flippers to traditional wolf imagery. This creature is known to many nations, and is called Wasgo in Haida legend.
-
Eagle Pendant
Gryn White
$180.00 CADArgillite, Catlinite, Abalone shell
The intelligent Eagle symbolizes status, power, peace and friendship. Eagle feathers are considered a sacred part of many ceremonies and rituals. The Eagle is known to mate with one partner for a lifetime.
In Haida legend, the Eagle and Raven are close companions and serve as alter egos.
-
Bear Pendant
Gryn White
$180.00 CADArgillite, Catlinite, Abalone shell
The powerful, human-like Bear was referred to as ‘Elder Kinsmen’ and treated as a high-ranking guest when killed. As a close relation to mankind, Bear is considered to be the link between the human and non-human realms as well linking the secular natural with the supernatural or the divine. The Bear symbolizes courage, strength, authority and learned humility.
-
Bear Bowl
Gryn White
$725.00 CADArgillite
The powerful, human-like Bear was referred to as ‘Elder Kinsmen’ and treated as a high-ranking guest when killed. As a close relation to mankind, Bear is considered to be the link between the human and non-human realms as well linking the secular natural with the supernatural or the divine. The Bear symbolizes courage, strength, authority and learned humility.
-
Blue Heron & Killerwhale Model Pole
Gryn White
$1,100.00 CADArgillite
The Great Blue Heron is a year-round inhabitant of the Northwest Coast. It symbolizes grace and patience, and is known for its easy-going nature. Traditionally, it was valued both as a winter food and as an alarm-raiser: a Heron cries out a loud warning at the approach of a human.
The Killerwhale is a powerful underwater hunter and considered the sea manifestation of the land Wolf. It’s commonly known to mate and guard its family for a lifetime. Thus, a whale sighted near the shore, was believed to be a transformed human trying to communicate with his family. Killerwhales are associated with family, power, strength, dignity and communication.
-
Gunarh Riding Killerwhale Sculpture
Christian White
$6,800.00 CADArgillite, Catlinite, Mother of Pearl, Abalone shell
According to the oral traditions of the Northwest Coast, there was once a man named Gunarh whose beautiful wife was kidnapped by a Killerwhale. He took her to the underwater village of the powerful Killerwhale People, and planned to wed her as soon as he could create a dorsal fin and attach it to her back. However, Gunarh was determined to rescue his beloved. He undertook a series of perilous tasks, going so far as to ride on the back of a mighty Killerwhale to reach the village in the depths of the sea. There, Gunarh successfully extracted his wife from the Chief Killerwhale’s longhouse, rescuing his love and returning with her to their own earthly village.
This is a common myth amongst the Haida people but there are many versions of this legend base on the Nation which is telling the story. In some versions, Gunarh is instead called Nanasimget.
-
Eagle Amulet
Christian White
$3,100.00 CADArgillite, Mother of Pearl, Abalone shell, Mastodon Ivory
The intelligent Eagle symbolizes status, power, peace and friendship. Eagle feathers are considered a sacred part of many ceremonies and rituals. The Eagle is known to mate with one partner for a lifetime.
In Haida legend, the Eagle and Raven are close companions and serve as alter egos.
For more details on shipping Ivory outside of Canada, please click here and then click open the Shipping section and scroll down to read more on Shipping Restrictions.
-
Xuuts’ (Bear) Amulet
Christian White
$3,900.00 CADArgillite, Catlinite, Mother of Pearl, Abalone shell, Mastodon Ivory
The powerful, human-like Bear was referred to as ‘Elder Kinsmen’ and treated as a high-ranking guest when killed. As a close relation to mankind, Bear is considered to be the link between the human and non-human realms as well linking the secular natural with the supernatural or the divine. The Bear symbolizes courage, strength, authority and learned humility.
For more details on shipping Ivory outside of Canada, please click here and then click open the Shipping section and scroll down to read more on Shipping Restrictions.
-
Raven with Light Feast Bowl
Lionel Samuels
$12,600.00 CADArgillite, Abalone shell
Lionel Samuels’ Raven with Light Feast Bowl is a stunning example of his workmanship in argillite. He created the feast bowl in the form of a Raven, embellished with inlays of abalone shell. Lionel takes the Raven, revered as the hero, creator, trickster and transformer, as his family crest symbol. This feast bowl is a beautiful tribute to the important crest figure.
-
Killerwhale Pendant
Gryn White
$180.00 CADArgillite, Catlinite, Abalone shell
The Killerwhale is a powerful underwater hunter and considered the sea manifestation of the land Wolf. It’s commonly known to mate and guard its family for a lifetime. Thus, a whale sighted near the shore, was believed to be a transformed human trying to communicate with his family.
The Killerwhale is an important crest symbol, associated with family, power, strength, dignity and communication.
-
Killerwhale Pendant
Gryn White
$180.00 CADArgillite, Catlinite, Abalone shell
The Killerwhale is a powerful underwater hunter and considered the sea manifestation of the land Wolf. It’s commonly known to mate and guard its family for a lifetime. Thus, a whale sighted near the shore, was believed to be a transformed human trying to communicate with his family.
The Killerwhale is an important crest symbol, associated with family, power, strength, dignity and communication.
-
Wolf Pendant
Gryn White
$180.00 CADArgillite, Catlinite, Abalone shell
The Wolf is a symbol of patience, individuality and protection. The Wolf was revered as a powerful and skillful hunter on land. In order to become a good hunter, one must acquire the spiritual power of the Wolf. The Wolf is considered the land manifestation of the Killerwhale; it mates and guards its family for a lifetime.
-
Story of Nanasimgit Amulet
Darrell White
$5,200.00 CADArgillite, Catlinite, Abalone shell, Mother of Pearl, Sterling silver
Sterling silver Omero chain available separately.According to the oral traditions of the Northwest Coast, there was once a man named Nanasimget whose beautiful wife was kidnapped by a Killerwhale. He took her to the underwater village of the powerful Killerwhale People, and planned to wed her as soon as he could create a dorsal fin and attach it to her back. However, Nanasimget was determined to rescue his beloved. He undertook a series of perilous tasks, going so far as to ride on the back of a mighty Killerwhale to reach the village in the depths of the sea. There, Nanasimget successfully extracted his wife from the Chief Killerwhale’s longhouse, rescuing his love and returning with her to their own earthly village.
This is a common myth amongst the Haida people but there are many versions of this legend base on the Nation which is telling the story. In some versions, Nanasimget is instead called Gunarh.
-
Raven with Human Amulet
Darrell White
$4,700.00 CADArgillite, Catlinite, Abalone shell, Sterling silver
Sterling silver Omero chain available separately.Full of magical, supernatural power, Raven could turn himself into anything at any time. His legendary antics were often motivated by insatiable greed, and he loved to tease, cheat, woo and trick. In legends, the Raven is credited for releasing the Sun, Creating the Moon, Stars and the Universe and, according to the Haida Nation, discovering Humans in a Clamshell.
-
Eagle, Bear, & Human Model Pole
Gryn White
$1,700.00 CADArgillite
Argillite is grey colour and a relatively soft stone to carve which hardens over time as it begins to oxidize once removed from the mine. As it is relatively a limited resource, it is difficult to obtain large pieces from the quarry. Apart from small totem poles like this, the kinds of objects carved from Argillite include plates with carved and incised designs, pendants, pipes, small boxes, and sculptured figures.
-
Gonagadet “Lazy Son-in-Law” Sculpture
Andrew Williams
$4,800.00 CADArgillite, Abalone shell
The Lazy Son-in-Law is a story of a young son-in-law who is chastised by his mother-in law for sleeping in late, not taking care of his tools, not bringing in enough firewood and above all not catching enough fish or trapping enough game.
Growing tired of her nagging, the young son-in-law announced he was going inland for several days. Taking his best stone adze and several other tools, he ventured to a nearby lake. Here, he cut down the tallest of Red Cedar trees and constructed a large trap and waited on guard, ready for the infamous Wasgo to appear. Shortly the water began to churn and the four-legged, finned Wasgo appeared snapping at the enticing bait. The young crafty hunter released the remaining cedar trap to ensnare and break the Seabear’s back.
After dragging the mighty Seabear ashore, he skinned it, and burned its carcass in a great fire. The next night, adorned in the Seabear’s skin, he swam in the lake and finally out to sea. The following evenings he began to catch large prey, salmon, seals and sea-lions; not just one but many and placing them all as gifts on the old mother-in-law steps, and in the morning he would return home in human form, silent to his adventures. Unaware of her son-in-laws newfound gift, the old woman began to sing her own praise; claiming how lucky they all were for her being in touch with the masters of the sea.
Soon, her pride knowing no boundaries she decided to hold a feast in honor of herself. The morning of the feast no gifts from the sea were to be found, but she did not fret as another good sign had occurred – her lazy son-in-law was nowhere to be seen. Guests arrived and celebrations were underway when Wasgo came forth from the sea bearing sea gifts. The daughter ran up to Wasgo with guests and mother behind. Although, no words were exchanged, everyone could see the eyes of the Wasgo belonged to that of the son-in-law.
From that day forth, no one ever bought fish to the hunter’s mother-in-law again for she fainted and died on the spot, but the daughter received sea gifts every morning, summer and winter, for the remainder of her life.
-
Frog Bowl
Greg White Lightbown
$1,650.00 CADArgillite
The Frog symbolizes luck, prosperity, stability and healing. As a communicator, Frogs connect with the world on land and under water. This figure is often carved into totem poles to prevent them from falling over.
-
Dorsal Fin Pendant
Amy Edgars
$75.00 CADArgillite
This pendant depicts the dorsal fin of a Killerwhale. In Northwest Coast oral tradition, the Killerwhale is a powerful underwater hunter. It is also considered to be the sea manifestation of the land Wolf. Killerwhales are commonly known to mate and guard their family for a lifetime. As a crest symbol, the Killerwhale is associated with family, power, strength, dignity and communication.
-
Feather Earrings
Amy Edgars
$120.00 CADArgillite, Abalone
The Eagle feather symbolizes honor and gives strength to those who wear or hold one. It also gives one the ability to speak from the heart. The middle vein that runs down the feather represents the path that every human walks in their lifetime.
-
3. Eagle, Killerwhale, Bear & Frog Model Pole
Christian White
Price upon requestArgillite, Catlinite, Abalone shell
Argillite is grey colour and a relatively soft stone to carve which hardens over time as it begins to oxidize once removed from the mine. As it is relatively a limited resource, it is difficult to obtain large pieces from the quarry. Apart from small totem poles like this, the kinds of objects carved from Argillite include plates with carved and incised designs, pendants, pipes, small boxes, and sculptured figures.
-
70. Mother & Baby Killerwhale Amulet
Andrew Williams
$1,100.00 CADArgillite, Sterling silver
2.5 x 1.75 x 0.5″
Sterling silver Omero chain available separately.This stunning amulet was featured in the GYUUJUU HLAA: Haida Masterworks III Exhibition in 2017. This exhibition illustrated the great importance of listening amongst the Haida, demonstrating how their artform is an extension of the Potlatch, where communication was an essential element in ceremony and critical to the continuation of their oral cultural heritage.
In the Haida language, Gyuujuu hlaa simply means “listen” and it is meant to invoke everyone’s undivided attention. Through the artists’ creations, they visually express centuries-old legends and mythologies, as well as the places they are connected to, by illustrating stories you can ‘hear’ while reflecting upon the artform.
-
69. Story of Nanasimgit Amulet
Andrew Williams
$1,100.00 CADArgillite, Sterling silver
2.5 x 1.5 x 0.5″
Sterling silver Omero chain available separately.According to the oral traditions of the Northwest Coast, there was once a man named Nanasimget whose beautiful wife was kidnapped by a Killerwhale. He took her to the underwater village of the powerful Killerwhale People, and planned to wed her as soon as he could create a dorsal fin and attach it to her back. However, Nanasimget was determined to rescue his beloved. He undertook a series of perilous tasks, going so far as to ride on the back of a mighty Killerwhale to reach the village in the depths of the sea. There, Nanasimget successfully extracted his wife from the Chief Killerwhale’s longhouse, rescuing his love and returning with her to their own earthly village.
This is a common myth amongst the Haida people but there are many versions of this legend base on the Nation which is telling the story. In some versions, Nanasimget is instead called Gunarh.