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Description

Large circular argillite plate carved with figures of halibut, sculpin, humans and frogs and inlaid with bone. [CAK 17/05/2010]

Display History

Artefact selected for exhibition on the theme of animals at the University Museum of Natural History, Oxford, 1999.

Longer Description

Large circular argillite plate carved with figures of halibut, sculpin, humans and frogs and inlaid with bone. [The following description is based on an orientation of the plate with the label at the bottom.] The plate has a concave curvature with a flat rim. The rim measures 20 mm in width, is smooth and is inlaid with 10 diamond shaped piece of bone. Inside the rim, where the plate begins to curve, is a ring of slightly-curved grooves decorating the plate. The carved scene at the centre of the plate is 287 mm in diameter. The centre of the plate has been carved or drilled away, leaving a hole. The figure at the centre of the plate is a halibut whose head faces to the right and whose tail extends to the left edge of the scene. The halibut is discernible from its two eyes which share a plane, the fins, and tail. The body of the halibut is decorated with ovoids and lines of pecking. Two small frogs are visible, one below the halibut's head and one above the halibut's head. The forearms, eyes and wide mouth of the frogs are visible and face to the right. The frogs' bodies are decorated with pecking as well. Above and below the halibut's anterior are two figures with human faces, hair standing straight up, fins and fish-like bodies. The figure above the halibut is orientated with its head toward the centre and the tail at the left edge of the scene, while the figure below the halibut is orientated with its head at the left edge of the scene and its tail toward the centre. The bodies of each of these figures are decorated with pecking. Above the top figure and below the bottom figure are two large fins decorated with pecking, formline designs and cross-hatching. These large fins appear to be connected with the large face right of centre. Two large eyes, nostrils and a wide mouth with two rows of pointed teeth are visible. This head or face is identified as possibly belonging to a wolf, however, given the mouth, nostrils and connection to the fins, this figure may actually be a sculpin. Underneath this wide mouth are 6 human faces that form the right edge of the scene. The faces look toward the centre of the plate. Three of the faces have marks on the sides of their mouths (perhaps wrinkles, or gills). Two human-like figures exist on either side of this row of faces. The feet of the figures abut the faces, and their bodies and heads extend alongside the mouth and eyes of the sculpin(?) toward the centre. The heads of each of the figures are surrounded by a large ovoid shape. Between the figures and the edge of the scene are small sections of cross-hatching. Above the heads/ovoids of the figures are three pointed sections, again decorated with pecking and perhaps representing the spines of the sculpin. There are small sections of cross-hatching between these pointed sections and the large fins. Some empty space also exists at the end of the scene, i.e. smooth, plainly carved argillite. The reverse of the plate is smoothly carved, convex, and has a flat, round base. There are four circles with straight lines radiating out from the centres decorating the reverse. The initials 'FH' are carved near to one of the circles. Large metal staples appear to have been used to repair cracks in the plate. There are two pairs of small holes on the base which appear to have been made by such staples, although the staples themselves are no longer present. [CAK 29/04/2009]

Primary Documentation

Accession Book Entry - 28 Jan STEVENS' AUCTION ROOMS. Large circular plate of black slatey stone, elaborately carved with figures of halibut, head of wolf (?), human heads etc in relief, and inlaid with bone; HAIDA, QUEEN CHARLOTTE ID. Pd. by cheque 2 Feb., 1926. £2

There is no further information on the catalogue card. [CW 8 6 98]

Pitt Rivers Museum label - [glued on to object] Large plat of stone carved with figures of halibut, head of wolf (?), human heads, etc, & inlaid with bone. HAIDA, QUEEN CHARLOTTE ID. Purch. 1926 (Stevens). [CAK 29/04/2009]
Pitt Rivers Museum label [in bag with object]- CANADA, QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLAND, HAIDA. Shale (argillite) dish carved with a halibut (centre), the face of a wolf?, etc., and inlaid with bone. Purch. 1926. (Stevens). [CAK 29/04/2009]

'FH' is carved into the back of the plate [KJ 3/9/2008]

Related Documents File - The Haida Project Related Documents File contains video of research sessions and interviews with Haida delegates from September 2009 as part of the project ‘Haida Material Culture in British Museums: Generating New Forms of Knowledge'. It also includes post-visit communications that discuss object provenance. For extensive photographic, video, and textual records documenting the Haida research visit as a whole, including but not limited to preparations of objects for handling, travel logistics, British Museum participation, transcribed notes from research sessions and associated public events held at PRM, see the Haida Project Digital Archive, stored with the Accessions Registers. Original hand-written notes taken during research sessions have been accessioned into the Manuscripts collection, in addition to select other materials. [CAK 02/06/2010]

Research Notes

The following information comes from Haida delegates who worked with the museum's collection in September 2009 as part of the project “Haida Material Culture in British Museums: Generating New Forms of Knowledge”:
This plate was viewed alongside other argillite carvings on Tuesday Sept 15, 2009. One delegate described the iconography as a a halibut, sculpin or whale, humans, mermaid, or sea lions, and frog. Diane Brown identified the central figure as a halibut with sea lions or seals around the tail. The Haida word for halibut was given as xaaguu. Billy Yovanovich thought the central figure was a sculpin and the human faces in the fins were a way of filling space. He thought the faces could be a signature of the artist. It was noted that the frog, sculpin and halibut are eagle crests. Christian thought there were supernatural beings represented on the plate, as well as shamans and transformation figures. He pointed out that the sculpin's nose and frogs' bodies are both pointed. One suggestion was that the sculpin may alternatively be a wolf because of the big toothy smile, but perhaps a sculpin because the small marks on the sides are scale-like. The decoration the underside of the plate was described as representing flowers or a wheel. The plate was described as being not particularly well-carved. The argillite was polished and Christian White noted that argillite can be polished to produce a mirror finish. Delegates commented that this plate shows signs of wear.
Gwaai Edenshaw identified the inlays as whale jaw bone. He thought the face carved into the fin was an unusual feature.
Argillite carving was described as an important way of carrying on stories and oral traditions during the time potlatching and dances were banned. This plate was described as a being made for trade. The hole in the centre of the plate allows a pole or dowel to be inserted and keep the plate in place while it was being carved.
Delegates made comparisons to the well-known plate carved by Tom Price, though they clarified they did not think this plate was done by Price.
A group discussion about argillite raised the following points. Argillite is only carved on Haida Gwaii. It is a natural resource of the islands, is very brittle and difficult to carve. Black is the most common variety, but rarer red and brown varieties also exist. It requires a skillful hand to carve it successfully. In addition to early trading, argillite served an important purpose during difficult years in Haida communities. Even when not skillfully executed, argillite allowed carvers to record stories and oral histories, like previous generations did in wood before them; they were able to preserve a significant amount of information that might otherwise have been lost. Argillite also provided a medium for Haidas to be satirical about the Europeans they were encountering. [CAK 01/06/2010]

This object was viewed and confirmed as Haida by tribal members Vincent Collison, Lucille Bell, and Kwiiawah Jones on 7 September 2007 in preparation for a planned Haida community visit to PRM in 2009 [L Peers, 21/01/2008]