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Description

Dagger or sheath-knife with string-bound grip and wooden handle carved in the shape of a bird's head.

Longer Description

Dagger or sheath-knife with string-bound grip and wooden handle carved in the shape of a bird's head. The blade is straight along one edge and has a slight curve near the tip of the other edge. There is a round perforation near the point. Where the blade and handle join, the blade narrows (it becomes thinner than the handle) and extends along one side of the grip to the pommel. The other side of the grip is wood. The two sides have been tightly bound together by thin brown string. The pommel and grip are carved from a single piece of wood. The pommel has been carved as a bird with short feathers visible under its beak and small feet nestled between the feathers. The beak curves downward and is relatively short. Large eyes are visible on either side, and the top of the birds head is carved with feathers and ears. [CAK 23/06/2009]

Primary Documentation

Accession Book Entry - MRS BICKMORE, Oxford. Haida dagger or sheath knife with carved handle, Queen Charlotte Ids. 5/-

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

Pitt Rivers Museum label - HAIDA QUEEN CHARLOTTE IDS. Purch. 1901 (Bickman) [LM 14/05/2007]

Related Documents File - A discussion of daggers can be viewed on Tape 9, time 5:27 within the Haida Project 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

Mrs Bickmore was a dealer based in the High Street, Oxford [AP 22/01/2007]

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 dagger was viewed alongside other weapons and tools on Monday Sept 14, 2009. Delegates largely thought this was a functional, rather than ceremonial, dagger. It was observed that the hole in the blade could indicate the re-use of found or traded metal. Christian White commented that the thread bound on the handle could be sail-making thread. He thought the wood of the dagger could be walnut or wood from a gunstock. Christian also thought the metal looked recycled and wondered if it had come from a broken sword. He thought this would be used as a weapon for fighting. Gaahlaay (Lonnie Young) thought the knife would be used for cutting and skinning animals, a kind of utility knife. Jaalen Edenshaw observed that with this, and other, blades, the ribs running lengthways from the tip to the hilt allow for the swift removal of the blade: if the blade were to become lodged in a body, the owner/user of knife would be in increased danger.
In terms of the figure on the dagger, Christain White noted that it had a distinctive eye, and that there was almost a row of teeth visible, suggesting to him that it was a raven. Another delegate thought the bird figure was more probably an eagle.
Discussion of Haida daggers more generally can be viewed on Tape 9, time 5:27, which can be found in the Haida Project Related Documents File. [CAK 12/05/2010]