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Description

Argillite pipe with three men with a wheel mounted on a wooden platform. [CAK 29/04/2009]

Longer Description

Argillite pipe with three men with a wheel mounted on a wooden platform. A man is standing on one end of the carving, looking out. He has short hair that frames his face, and his eyes, nose, mouth and chin are all clearly visible. His clothing includes a high-collared jacket, trousers with two stripes down the outside leg seam and boots. His elbows are bent and behind him, abutting the back of a second man who is seated on a stool. This second figure has similar hair and clothing; the back of his jacket is decorated with a thick line and notches on either side of the line. Although his legs and arms are carved in profile, his torso and head are aligned perpendicular to these. His arms stretch upwards and grab a long, squared, pole. In between the man's shins and feet and his forearms and hands is a large circle, carved in segments. The circle likely represents the wheel of a paddle ship. Running from the second man's head, through his hands, across the top of the circle, through the hands of a third figure and ending at the head of a third figure is a long, squared pole or beam. The third figure is also male and similar dressed with striped trousers and high collar. His body has a similar alignment to the second figure and he is seated on a box. Around his middle section is wide band, decorated with lines and notches, that goes from the wheel/circle, across one side of his body, around his back, and across the other side of his body to connect with the wheel/circle again. The carving has been set into a rectangular, varnished, wooden mount with a bevelled edge which is particularly prominent at the end with the standing man. [CAK 29/04/2009]
Probably an undrilled section of a Haida pipe. Two male figures sit, one on either side, supporting a large disc carved into octagonal sections. This is the motif representing the wheel of the paddle steamer. A third figure stands behind one of the supporters with his elbows resting against him. These figures all have high collars, trousers and boots. The scene may depict a ship's wheel and crew. [?LMM 1990 8]

Primary Documentation

Accession Book Entry - 'CHARLES BLAKEMAN, ... BANBURY, OXON. 1981.4.1 NORTH AMERICA NW COAST HAIDA. Argillite carving on a wooden platform. Probably an undrilled section of a Haida pipe. Two male figures sit, one on either side, supporting a large disc carved into octagonal sections. This is the motif representing the wheel of the paddle steamer. A third figure stands behind one of the supporters, with his elbows resting against him. These figures all have high collars, trousers and boots. The scene may depict a ship's wheel and crew. Max. H = 11 cm.; L. platform = 20.7 cm.; thickness = ca. 1.8 cm. No previous history; purchased by donor in Edinburgh around 40 years ago. Donated Jan. 1981.

There is no further information on the catalogue card. [Cw 11 6 98]

Pitt Rivers Museum label - NORTH AMERICA NW COAST prob. HAIDA Argillite carving, ?part of pipe / Don. C. Blakeman [CAK 29/04/2009]

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 pipe was viewed alongside other argillite carvings on Tuesday Sept 15, 2009. Delegates described the scene as men looking through a telescope over a ship's wheel. The figures were described as Europeans and Nika Collison explained that this pipe, like others, shows the influence of trading ships.
PRM staff noted the presence of the wheel motif in a number of other argillite pieces in collections throughout the UK, and thought it depicted a ship's wheel or paddle wheel.
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 21/05/2010]

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]

For date ranges and information on motifs of argillite ship pipes, see Wright, Robin K. 1979. 'Haida Argillite Ship Pipes' in American Indian Art 5(1): 40-47. [Cara Krmpotich 19/03/2009]