Artifact of the Month: May 2021
Haida Argillite Sculpture
1964.1.175  Museum Purchase
By Amanda Kramp, Assistant Curator of Collections and Exhibits

This summer we are highlighting quintessential Native American Arts from our permanent collection for our Artifact of the Month exhibit. (Don’t worry, your votes still count and your selections will come up as subsequent Artifacts of the Month!)

Our first selection for May is an argillite sculpture from the Haida in the Pacific Northwest. Argillite is a kaolinite shale or a dense sedimentary rock between slate and shale. Though argillite occurs throughout the world, the argillite carved by the Haida can only be found at a quarry called Slatechuck on Haida Gwaii, the archipelago that the Haida call home. The journey to the quarry is perilous and carving and polishing the soft stone takes a great deal of skill.

The Haida have been carving argillite for over 200 years. The tradition began with simple pipes for smoking tobacco, but a robust trading economy quickly elevated this art form to new heights. The Haida have carved miniature totem poles, panel pipes depicting Russian, European, and American ships, tableware, and more from argillite. Today, Haida artists continue the tradition of carving miniature totem poles, as well as jewelry and other items representing Haida cultural themes.

The argillite sculpture on exhibit at Turtle Bay weighs nearly ten pounds. That’s the same as a bowling ball, a baby, or a small dog! This type is categorized as a “figural group”, representing three humans and two bears. Many figural sculptures incorporate significant myths and the bear is an important figure that emerges often. The story of Mother Bear is one of the most frequently represented legends and could be portrayed here.

Stop by the Museum before the end of May to see this beautiful artwork in person and to learn more about the Haida and argillite!

To learn more about this artifact, visit the Artifact of the Month exhibit inside the Museum entrance at Turtle Bay Exploration Park. You can also click the link below for the Artifact of the Month webpage for more information on the exhibit and past blogs.