Raven & Frog Bracelet
Availability: Only 1 available
by David Neel
Sterling silver, Engraved
0.75 x 6.25"
$900.00 CAD
Only 1 available
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Sterling silver, Engraved
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Supernatural Log Bracelet
Marcel Russ
Price upon requestSterling silver, Engraved
Domed, TaperedThe Supernatural Log is more commonly referred to as Snag or Ts’Amos (Alternate spellings: Ttaamuus, Tsamaos). He is the personification of the seafaring Haidas’ obstacles while on the ocean in canoes; driftwood or deadheads. The Snag is an amorphous supernatural creature both in artwork and in legend and first appeared as a crest figure of families along the Skeena River. It is believed to have first appeared on jewelry designs by the famed Charles Edenshaw, whose father took the Snag as a crest.
A Snag can vary in appearance, much like the driftwood it imitates, but it almost always has a snag (deadhead) for a dorsal fin. It can be as simple as a dead log with a tail that can swim against the current. It can be a huge sea lion with dorsal fins and blowholes, or an enormous grizzly bear with a downturned mouth like a dogfish. It can be a hybrid of bear and Killerwhale, or raven and Killerwhale, with multiple bodies. It can be a large frog covered in seaweed with a snag sticking out of its back, and can even be a canoe or a schooner. Most visible at the change of tides, the Snag, if angered can breach and land on canoes, smashing them to bits. He also can make huge waves to capsize boats. The Snag was frequently featured as a protective figure on Bentwood Boxes that contained treasured artifacts, and is frequently depicted with Raven, its counterpart.
The Snag is a very important feature in the Haida legend of How the World Was Formed. Before there was the world as we know it, Raven was flying and flying and flying, and finally came to rest on a single rock, which was the tip of Haida Gwaii and the beginning of the world. This rock, was supported beneath (from the undersea world) by a stone house pole, which was in fact the fin of the Snag. It is therefore common to see the Raven and Snag in conjunction in Haida art. The Snag figure can be seen as an acceptance of responsibility for supporting the world, similar to the Atlas figure in Greek mythology.
It is believed the legends around the Snag was a warning for those who travelled by canoe to be more wary of their surroundings, especially at the change of the tides, and keep them alert on the water. When the tides change, deadheads and hidden logs or obstacles can suddenly appear and be a danger. As the Haida relied on trade with Mainland Nations to survive, it was pertinent for them to be adept at sea, paddling the vast distances to and from the islands to the coast.
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Hawk Moon Pendant
Vernon Joseph White
$1,600.00 CADArgillite, Abalone Shell, Sterling Silver, Mastodon ivory
The Hawk takes its place in the supernatural spiritual world, inspiring unique designs for masks, rattles and jewelry. For the Haida Nation, it was used to represent the Thunderbird. Often associated with the Sun, the Hawk can be distinguished by its curled beak which curves to meet the tip of the lower jaw.
When the Raven brought light to the world, some versions of the legend say that it was the Hawk who made the Raven drop the box so it opened, releasing the Sun, Moon and Stars into the Universe.
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Raven & Killerwhale Engagement Set
Carmen Goertzen
$2,600.00 CAD18K White Gold, Engraved
35 point Emerald
Width: 3/8″
Size: 5
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Box of Daylight
David Neel
$250.00 CADSerigraph, Edition of 50
2018
Unframed
(For inquiries on custom framing, please contact the gallery)
David Neel’s Box of Daylight uses the modern printmaking technique of serigraphy to create a deeply symbolic rendition of Raven bringing light to the world. In this classic tale, Raven resolved to steal the Sun from an old man who had been keeping it all to himself in an old cedar box. To do so, Raven transformed himself into cedar sprig, and fell into the water of the old man’s daughter. Shortly after drinking this water, the daughter gave birth to a baby boy, who the old man spoiled greatly. Eventually, this little boy convinced his grandfather to let him play with the old cedar box, which he took outside with him. The boy immediately transformed back into the Raven and stole the box away. However, as he was flying, a strong gust of wind blew the cedar box from his mouth, releasing the Sun into the sky. Here the Sun stayed, lighting the earth from that day on.
In this piece, David strives to capture the deeper nature of this ancient tale. As such, Box of Daylight depicts Raven releasing not the Sun, but the Seed of Life, from Sacred Geometry. David’s use of the Seed of Life, which has a profound spiritual significance, highlights the true meaning of the legend. The story of the Raven bringing light to the world, at its most fundamental level, is a metaphor for the creation of the universe. Thus, Box of Light, encoded with this age-old knowledge, offers a glimpse into an ancient world.
“There is a wealth of information in traditional Indigenous tales, which are part of a long-standing oral tradition… While the delivery of the age-old stories may change, the essence of the tradition remains the same.” ~David Neel