History Of Argillite Styles
Argillite carvings have been created in a variety of forms including various styles of pipes, flutes, sinel figures, group figurines, circular dishes, platters, bowls, compotes (plate on a platter), poles, boxes, personal ornaments (amulets, labrets, medallions), models of Haida houses as well as models of Euro-American objects. Some argillite carvings are decorated with inlays of shell, metals, ivory, bone and other materials. These inlays accentuate various aspects of specific pieces. The sun casts clear copper rays, and a figure is able to stare out of a pair of shimmering abalone eyes.
In attempting to discuss and define the changing styles of argillite carving from the beginnings of their manufacture to their multiple contemporary forms, it must be realized that many of the works aquired from Haida individuals in the past were done so in a time very different than that of today. At the time contact between the Haida and Euro-American occurred, Haida ideas of “art” were very different from those of today. The past was known through oral histories, myths, and legends. It was through this period of drastic change that argillite art was created. The many changes are reflected in the changing styles portrayed in the argillite. These different styles can be interpreted as defining and depicting certain segments of time and the events occurring during their creation.
Argillite carvings have been created in a variety of forms including various styles of pipes, flutes, sinel figures, group figurines, circular dishes, platters, bowls, compotes (plate on a platter), poles, boxes, personal ornaments (amulets, labrets, medallions), models of Haida houses as well as models of Euro-American objects. Some argillite carvings are decorated with inlays of shell, metals, ivory, bone and other materials. These inlays accentuate various aspects of specific pieces. The sun casts clear copper rays, and a figure is able to stare out of a pair of shimmering abalone eyes.
In attempting to discuss and define the changing styles of argillite carving from the beginnings of their manufacture to their multiple contemporary forms, it must be realized that many of the works aquired from Haida individuals in the past were done so in a time very different than that of today. During the time of contact between the Haida and Euro-Americans, Haida ideas of “art” were very different from those of today. The past was known through oral histories, myths, and legends. It was through this period of drastic change that argillite art was created. The many changes are reflected in the changing styles portrayed in the argillite. These different styles can be interpreted as defining and depicting certain segments of time and the events occurring during their creation.
SFU’s Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology’s Argillite Collection
This collection contains four spectacular pieces that date from between the 1820’s to 1976. One of the more contemporary pieces is an argillite pole (see above, left). The pole was carved by Rufus Moody in 1974 and was donated to the museum by Dr. and Mrs. Green. The figures represented in the pole are as follows: Eagle, Mythical Bear, Bear with Salmon, Hawk with Killer Whale, and Bear with Killer Whale. The collection, also, includes a rectangular platter with bone and/or ivory inlays around its perimeter edges (see below, left). The centre of the platter depicts stylized European figures. Another piece in the collection is a representation of the sun (as shown below, centre). The sun was carved in 1976 by Ed Simeon. The piece includes the incorporation of carved bronze and silver inlay.This piece was collected by Reverend George H. Raley. The smaller oval platter was carved circa 1990 and has shell inlay around the outer edge (see below, right). The figure represented is a dogfish head and a split image of a serpent.