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Description

Rectangular box of argillite [.1] with lid [.2]. [SM 29/8/2008]

Longer Description

Rectangular box of argillite with lid and carved on all sides with formline designs. The box is carved from 8 pieces of argillite and has a wooden base with black cloth lining the inside bottom of the box. There are 2 long side panels, 2 shorter side panels, and 4 thin strips of argillite forming an apparent base to the box. However, if the box is lifted up, a wooden central base is clearly visible. Each of the long sides is carved the design of a beaver, recognisable by the two prominent front teeth in the mouth and the flipper-like feet. The eyes of the beaver are inlaid with round pieces of haliotis shell. Note that on one of the long sides, one of the inlays is missing. The nose of the beaver extends upwards and has three circular features carved on it. The leg joints of the beaver may contain killerwhale elements in them. There is cross-hatching filling the space around the beaver, except at the very top of the side which is plain except for a two lines that run close together and act as a kind of 'frame' for the beaver design. The beaver is carved on the upper two-thirds of the side; these is a thick straight light carved below the beaver, and in the bottom third of the side is carved two figures -- perhaps two whales as these figures (facing each other) have snouts, teeth, fins, dorsal fins (pointing downwards) and fluted tails. There is cross hatching filling the space around the whales. The two short sides of the box appear to be carved with frog designs (as suggested by the eye shape and protruding tongue) with two whale figures in either bottom corner and potentially whale figures in the joints of the frog as well. Much of the space around the frog is carved with cross-hatching. There are two thin lines 'framing' the carving, which extends from the base of the box to a point 10 mm below the top. The inside of the box is smooth and plainly carved. A black textile with a sheen lines the bottom.
The lid is made of 6 pieces of argillite. There are two long and two short sides which form a lip so that the lid can sit on top of the box; the fifth and sixth pieces are joined together to form the flat top of the lid. Each side is carved such that they gently angle outwards from the top, and then gently angle back inwards at the bottom. On the middle of each short side is a diamond shape inlay of haliotis shell. The long sides each have three diamond shape inlays of haliotis shell. The top of the lid is carved with the design of a killer whale: its fluted tail can be seen in the top left corner and contains two circular inlays of haliotis. Running from the tail to the large main fin is a double line with short marks along either side. The dorsal fin touches the tail and is also decorated with a small circular inlay of haliotis. The head of the whale is carved on the right side of the lid, in a central position with a large fin pointing back towards the rear of the whale, and the mouth and snout positioned to the right. The eye is inlaid with a circular piece of haliotis and the eye, snout/mouth area is decorated with small indentations. Coming out of the teeth of the whale is a creature (possibly a seal or bird) with a very small inlay of haliotis forming the eye. The area immediately surrounding the whale is outlined and filled with cross-hatching. The remainder of the lid is smooth and plainly carved as are the interior surfaces of the lid. [CAK 23/04/2009]

Primary Documentation

Accession Book Entry - 'COMR. A. C. BELL, R.N. Offices of the War Cabinet, Whitehall Gardens, S.W. Rectangular box of black slate stone, carved with totemic designs on sides and lid, modern HAIDA work, N. W. America
Additional Accession Book Entry - Number given LM.

There is no further information on the catalogue card. [CW 9 6 98]

Pitt Rivers Museum label - [glued on inside base of box] Slate-stone box carved with designs of Killer-whale etc. showing European influence. HAIDA, N.W. AMERICA. Pres. by Com. A.C. Bell, R.N, 1920. [CAK 23/04/2009]

Pitt Rivers Museum label - [display label] CANADA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, HAIDA INDIANS. Casket of argillite, made for trade, finely carved with designs of the killer-whale. Carving in argillite, developed by the HAIDA in the 19th. century, is now a dying art. Commander A.C. Bell, 1920. [CAK 23/04/2009]

Written on object [on the base of the box in black ink] - Haida d.d. A.C. Bell, 1920 [KJ 1/9/2008]

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 box was viewed alongside other argillite carvings on Tuedsay Sept 15, 2009. Jaalen Edenshaw described the figures on the long sides as beavers. Christian White similarly identified the figures as beavers with killer whales underneath. The teeth of the beaver were remarked upon as they are particularly pointy. The heads of the killer whales on the long sides were described as having unorthodox heads. One delegate described them as being similar to those of sea bears. This led the delegate to question whether these killer whales might be supernatural beings. Diane Brown pointed out the dotted horn coming up through the centre of the beaver's face and identified this as a supernatural snag which takes many forms on Haida Gwaii, and is often referred to as Tcamoos. The figure on the lid was described as a whale with the blow hole carved out. A seal was identified inside the mouth of the whale. The short sides were described as containing salmon trout heads near the base. Christian White thought this box resembled the work of Claude Davidson from the 1970s and 80s, or possibly the work of John Marks. He noted, however, that the only references to these carvers' works from the relevant time period are bracelets. He believed the shape of the Us in the design emulate the style of Charles Edenshaw. The construction of the box was discussed, with delegates noting that the interior is lined and therefore could have contained tobacco or cigars, and that the edges of the lid are glued indicating it was not carved from a single piece of argillite. Gaahlaay (Lonnie Young) noted that inlays in argillite were rare when he was young.
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 13/05/2010]

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]