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Description

Portion of an argillite pipe carved with the head of an animal with a berried plant in its mouth. [CAK 08/06/2009]

Longer Description

Portion of an argillite pipe carved with the head of an animal with a berried plant in its mouth. Evidence of open-work carving can be found between the animal and berries, and between features of the animal. The base of the pipe is flat and carved with a groove on the underside. The motif along the bottom is leaves and berries (this is more clearly visible on the side without writing). The berries appear to represent a complete, carved portion of the base (i.e. they are not broken off), unlike the figure carved above them. The snout of the animal figure extends from the base of the pipe, along the leaves. It appears to form one terminus of the pipe. The nostrils are mostly missing, but a mouth is clearly discernible as are the eyes. Extending out from behind the eyes, and atop the leaves, on either side of the pipe are fin-like features. Above the fins is a carved segment that has been decorated with pecking. Extending from the top of the head upward is another fin-like or ear-like feature. There is no evidence of a bowl or mouth piece, however, these elements may have existed in the pieces of the pipe no longer existent. [CAK 08/06/2009]

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. No information about this particular object was recorded from delegates.
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 28/05/2010]

For an account of the Charles A. Pope Collection, see Speaking for Themselves: The Pope Collection of Native American Artifacts in the Pitt Rivers Museum, by Lindsey Richardson (University of Oxford: M.Sc. dissertation in Material Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, 2001); copy in RDF (Collectors: Pope). [JC 6 1 2004]
The figure carved on the pipe is described as "vulpine" however foxes are uncharacteristic of northwest coast designs and the figure itself contains a stronger resemblance to a killer whale with fins than a land mammal. However, as the fragment does not appear to contain the animal in its entirety, identification is more difficult. [CAK 08/06/2009]
For additional information on Haida argillite pipes, see Robin K Wright's article on pages 48-55 of American Indian Art Magazine, Winter 1982, Volume, Issue, and Peter McNair's chapter, "From the Hands of Master Carpenter" within the Vancouver Art Gallery's catalogue for the exhibition 'Raven Travelling: Two centuries of Haida Art' (published by Douglas and McIntyre and the University of Washington Press. There is scant evidence for the use of argillite pipes among the Haidas themselves, however, Haida artists readily adapted the material to create elaborate pipes for sale to sailors and traders at least as early as the 1820s. [CAK 08/06/2009]

Primary Documentation

Accession Book Entry - 'POPE, Dr. of Christ Church...12 Slate stone head of a vulpine animal carved both sides (part of a plaque) berried plant in mouth. N. W. AMERICA.'
Additional Accession Book Entry - 'QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS HAIDA INDIANS (The only Indians who make these carvings)'

Card Catalogue Entry - The undrilled portion of a black argillite pipe, carved with the head of a vulpine animal with a berried plant in its mouth. Max L = 10.6 cm; Max H = 10.6 cm; thickness = ca. 1 cm Originally from Dr. Pope of Christ Church, number 12. Transferred from University Museum, 1887. [CAK 08/06/2009]

?Pre-PRM label - [glued to object] HAIDA N.W. AMERICA dd. Dr Pope (12) [CAK 08/06/2009]

Pitt Rivers Museum label - NW COAST HAIDA QUEEN CHARLOTTE IS. undrilled part of argillite pipe. Coll. by Dr. Pope Christ Church, his number 12. [CAK 08/06/2009]

Related Documents File - [in Collectors: Pope] "Speaking for Themselves: The Pope Collection of Native American Artifacts in the Pitt Rivers Museum" MSc Dissertation by Lindsey Richardson. Transfer date from Ashmolean to Pitt Rivers given as 1886 [CAK 09/06/2009]

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]