Accession Number

Cultural Group

Material

Process

Region

Acquired

PRM Source

Dimension

Keyword

Class

Description

Argillite sculpture of two shaman with frog and dog. [CAK 27/04/2009]

Longer Description

Argillite sculpture of two human figures with frog and dog. Carved in open-work fashion from a single piece of argillite. The base of the sculpture is flat, and the figure group is carved in three-dimensions. The two humans are positioned at the back of the group. Their 'outside' legs are severely bent, suggesting they are squatting. The human on the left is carrying a globular rattle in his (her?) outside hand. His right arm comes to the fore of the grouping and is grabbing a staff or stick or tube (the top portion has broken off making it difficult to identify what this might have been). This figure's face is pointing outward at a slight angle. The facial features are prominent and his hair is shown as being fixed on the top of the head. The figure is plainly carved on the reverse. The globular rattle and hair style strongly indicate this figure is a shaman. The human on the right also has clearly defined facial features, is facing outward, and has hair piled on the top of his(?) head, but also has longer hair visible on the sides of his head. He may alternatively be wearing a hat or headpiece as there is a circular feature separating the long hair from the plait or knot of hair on the top. This figure is clutching a small animal to its torso with one arm: likely a dog with pecked design, protruding tongue, ears and snout. The human's left arm is bent and joins hands with the dog (which has broken off) as well as a frog, who occupies the foreground of the sculpture. The reverse of the human figure is plainly carved. The frog is squatting at the bottom of the figural group, with its back extending upwards and its face facing upwards. One of its front arms joins with the dog and human hand, while the other front arm grasps on to the bottom of the broken staff, stick or tube held by the other figure. The back of the frog is decorated with pecking and its wide-set eyes and wide lips are easily visible. The front and back flippers are delineated. There is open space between the frogs hind quarters and the base of the sculpture. [CAK 27/04/2009]

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 carving was viewed alongside other argillite carvings on Tuesday Sept 15, 2009. Christian White identified the figures as shaman. Another delegate commented that the headpieces and hair styles were shamanic. Nika Collison identified the frog in the carving, and she and Christian both identified the animal as a dog or puppy. One other delegate thought they were holding a bear cub. Christian thought this piece was likely carved at a time when missionaries were persecuting shaman. He noted that shaman were part of secret societies, some of which ate dogs. He believed this carving was made for tourists. Nika commented that the faces of the shaman are striking due to the simplicity of form. She observed the rattle being held by one figure, and thought the hats they wore were unique and not something she had seen before.
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 18/05/2010]

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]

Primary Documentation

Accession Book Entry - J. T. Hooper, ... Banbury... Group of two human figures wuth frog, carved in black stone, N-W coast of AMERICA.
Added Accession Book Entry - QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS HAIDA INDIANS
Added Accession Book Entry - The HAIDA are the only INDIANS who make these carvings in argillite.

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

Pitt Rivers Museum label stuck on the object - N.W. COAST OF AMERICA. Pur. 15.7.1938. [ZM 29/09/2006]

Related Documents File [James Thomas Hooper, Catalogue of Ethnographical Material] - The museum has a photocopy of Hooper's accession and dispersal records, which are bound as two volumes and kept in a separate box file. Items are arranged according to Hooper's own numbering system [RTS 21/11/2003].

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]