Sawgum (Seal) Soapberry Spoon
Availability: Only 1 available
by Lyle Wilson
Yew wood
NUGWA (I/me) consider GLUMC (yew wood) a special, and relatively rare wood, NUGWA kept many off-cuts and other scrap pieces — it’s recognizing our overall need to conserve natural resources. So NUGWA resolved to use, as much as possible, even small pieces of GLUMC so the original tree wasn’t wasted. This piece was an off-cut from a larger GLUMC carving (the growth rings indicated the original tree was approximately 350 yrs old.).
USS is a traditional dessert made from a berry that is beaten into a pinkish, foamy (hence the translation to “soapberry”) dessert and a paddle-like KA-JA-NAUCH (spoon) was used to eat it. USS was considered a true delicacy in the olden days and served on special occasions like potlatches and feasts — it’s still traded and eaten today.
Normally most Pacific Northwest Coast carvers don’t use GLUMC because it’s a very tough, wild-grained, and relatively rare wood; as well it usually has many knots and other “flaws”. Such characteristic ensured that even in the olden days, it wasn’t used as extensively as other woods.
However, given that the goal was to use even scrap pieces of GLUMC, and both SAWGUM and USS being special foods, NUGWA combined these factors with jewelry techniques and carved this traditional USS KA-JA-NAUCH.
The real SAWGUM was also considered a coveted, rich food and it’s fat was often rendered down into a condiment oil to accompany dried foods. The SAWGUM’s meat, fat and oil would be served at a potlatch to demonstrate a clan’s wealth and generosity.
Lyle Wilson 2024
11 x 1.5 x 0.5" (27.94 x 3.81 x 1.27cm)
CA$1,200.00
Only 1 available
Reserve this artwork- Description
- Additional Information
- Artist Bio
Yew wood
NUGWA (I/me) consider GLUMC (yew wood) a special, and relatively rare wood, NUGWA kept many off-cuts and other scrap pieces — it’s recognizing our overall need to conserve natural resources. So NUGWA resolved to use, as much as possible, even small pieces of GLUMC so the original tree wasn’t wasted. This piece was an off-cut from a larger GLUMC carving (the growth rings indicated the original tree was approximately 350 yrs old.).
USS is a traditional dessert made from a berry that is beaten into a pinkish, foamy (hence the translation to “soapberry”) dessert and a paddle-like KA-JA-NAUCH (spoon) was used to eat it. USS was considered a true delicacy in the olden days and served on special occasions like potlatches and feasts — it’s still traded and eaten today.
Normally most Pacific Northwest Coast carvers don’t use GLUMC because it’s a very tough, wild-grained, and relatively rare wood; as well it usually has many knots and other “flaws”. Such characteristic ensured that even in the olden days, it wasn’t used as extensively as other woods.
However, given that the goal was to use even scrap pieces of GLUMC, and both SAWGUM and USS being special foods, NUGWA combined these factors with jewelry techniques and carved this traditional USS KA-JA-NAUCH.
The real SAWGUM was also considered a coveted, rich food and it’s fat was often rendered down into a condiment oil to accompany dried foods. The SAWGUM’s meat, fat and oil would be served at a potlatch to demonstrate a clan’s wealth and generosity.
Lyle Wilson 2024
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‘Goat Horn’ Pewter Serving Set
Artist Unknown
CA$250.00Cast from fine lead free Pewter (made in Canada)
Food safe and hand wash
Available in a Matte finish only
Each Utensil: 8 x 2 x 2″
Custom Maple Wood box is sold separately – please inquire for pricing
This beautifully designed serving set features classic totemic designs with Eagle, Frog and Raven Stealing the Sun. The traditional ‘Goat Horn’ styled fork and ladle make an ideal wedding or any occasion gift. Pewter will not tarnish like silver over time. Hand wash only with mild soap.
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Ceremonial Talking Stick
Dr. Richard Hunt RCA
Price upon requestRed Cedar wood, Abalone shell (over 150 individual inlaid pieces), Acrylic paint
More images available upon request.
69 x 12 x 11″ (including base)
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Raven & Light Sculpture
Lyle Wilson
SOLDWild Crabapple wood, Yew wood, Abalone shell
Black Walnut BaseThis is the story of WEE-GIT, the Trickster GAX (raven) stealing the”Ball of Light” — this carving shows WEE-GIT, perched on a traditional GUH-YO-JEELTH (bentwood box). The NA-GWA-JEE (moon) is above him.
In the olden days, the world was originally in darkness, so it was very hard for WEE-GIT to hunt for food in order to try satisfy his never-ending hunger. WEE-GIT knew that an old HEY-MAS (chief) owned, and kept, a “Ball of Light” in a GUH-YO-JEELTH. WEE-GIT decided it would be easier to get food if he could see, so he decided to trick the old HEY-MAS. He did that by using his magical powers to change himself into a pine needle; then floated into the chief’s daughter’s cup of water. She drank both the water and pine needle and became pregnant.
Thus WEE-GIT was reborn as a young boy and became the treasured grandchild of the old HEY-MAS.
At first the HEY-MAS kept a close watch on WEE-GIT but eventually the HEY-MAS let his “grandson” play with the “Ball of Light”; relatively unsupervised. Taking advantage of such loose supervision WEE-GIT quickly changed back into his true form and grabbed the NA-GWA-JEE in his beak. He flew up and squeezed through the big-house’s smokehole; the smokehole’s soot turned his white feathers to black when he squeezed out — that’s why all GAX have black feathers today.
The NA-GWA-JEE was very heavy and WEE-GIT soon became too tired to fly, so rather than let the pursuing HEY-MAS regain it, he threw the NA-GWA-JEE into the sky.
That is why there now is a NA-GWA-JEE casting its soft light from the nighttime sky; WEE-GIT’s unintentional gift to mankind. The “Ball of Light” has also served as a metaphor for the beginning of human consciousness on the Pacific Northwest Coast.
Lyle Wilson 2024
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Ḡax̄ (Raven) Pendant
Lyle Wilson
CA$1,200.00Sterling silver, Repousse, Chased, Engraved, Textured
2015
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Miya (Fish) Pendant
Lyle Wilson
CA$1,200.00Sterling silver, Repousse, Chased, Engraved, Textured
2015