ARGILLITE is a shale stone known as ‘Kwawhlahl’ among the Haida people, and they began carving it in response to the curio trade of the 1820s on the Haida Gwaii Islands. Today, Argillite continues to be protected and carved exclusively by the Haida, and is considered one the most highly collectible artforms on the Pacific Northwest Coast.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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68. Beaver Amulet
Andrew Williams
$1,100.00 CADArgillite, Sterling silver
2.5 x 1.75 x 0.5″
Beavers are creative, artistic, determined, and industrious. Well known for their industriousness and building skills, they are a common inhabitant throughout the Northwest Coast region.
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Eagle & Killerwhale Pendant
Andrew Williams
$1,350.00 CADArgillite, Abalone shell, Sterling silver
Bezel SettingThe intelligent Eagle symbolizes status, power, peace and friendship. The Eagle feather is considered a sacred part of many ceremonies and rituals. It’s known to mate with one partner for a lifetime.
The Killerwhale is an important crest symbol, associated with family, power, strength, dignity and communication.
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Killerwhale Amulet
Ron Russ
$2,200.00 CADArgillite, Abalone shell, Mother of Pearl, Yew wood
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.
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Frog Eating Dragonfly Pendant
Christian White
$2,200.00 CADArgillite, Catlinite, Abalone shell, Sterling silver
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.