Native American, Pacific Northwest coast, Haida, found in Skagway, Alaska according to collection label, ca. 19th century CE. A particularly fine example of an argillite peace pipe extensively decorated with totemic creatures, a proud Thunderbird with outspread wings before the vertical chamber, and a totem pole vertical profusion of animals stacked atop a standing human shamanic figure including (from top to bottom) a Thunderbird, a bear, a frog with a long tongue lapping upward, and a raven. Note the impressive artistry of this piece - how one figure practically flows into the next due to the expert carving technique. As if the two totemic scenes were not enough, the artisan also embellished the flat surfaces with incised floral vines and indigenous clan symbols. The mouthpiece is made of bone (marine mammal or deer) and grey sinew ties are wrapped around the juncture between it and the stem of the pipe. Truly a museum quality example. Size: 25.625" L x 5.75" H (65.1 cm x 14.6 cm); 7.75" H (19.7 cm) on included custom stand.

Argillite (in Haida, kwawhlahl) is a black, dense, carbonaceous shale which is only found in one site - Tllgaduu (Slatechuck) Creek near Hlragilda 'Ilnagaay) on Graham Island, Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands). In the 19th century, the Haida people began to carve this material as a good to trade with visiting Europeans and Americans. This trade was significant due to the decline of their traditional fishing-centered economy. Items like this peace pipe served as a way to demonstrate their artistic merit and introduce their indigenous iconography to the outside world. Artisans who carved argillite prior to 1890 generally preferred to leave evidence of their tool marks on the surface of their carved works; however, after 1890, artisans meticulously polished their carvings with fine abrasives, resulting in a very smooth surface which was oftentimes further polished with mixtures of Vaseline, shoe polish, graphite, and other materials in order to enhance the lustre of the argillite. This peace pipe displays many scratches from tool marks of the artisan, indicating that the piece was most likely created prior to 1890. (Macnair, Peter L. and Alan L. Hoover. 2002. "The Magic Leaves: A History of Haida Argillite Carving." Victoria, British Columbia: Royal British Columbia Museum, p. 12.)

For more information on Argillite carvings, read "Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery Canadian Northwest Coast Collection Research Report: Argillite, horn spoons and Model Totem Poles," by Emma Knight (7/27/2012) - https://plymhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/PCMAG-Northwest-Coast-Collection-Research-Report-Plymouth1-public_V02.pdf

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#133431

Surface shows scratches from tool marks; this suggests that the piece was created prior to 1890 (see extended description). Minor losses to ends of sinew ties. Bone mouthpiece shows expected dessication.