Platter
- Culture
- Haida artist
- Date
- c.1885
- Material
- Argillite
- associated with
- British Columbia province, Canada, North and Central America
- Classification
- Sculpture
- Collection
- Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 326
- Dimensions
- 2 1/2 x 14 1/2 x 28 1/4 in. (6.4 x 36.8 x 71.8 cm)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Morton D. May
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 270:1982
NOTES
This deeply sculpted platter features a cast of characters from Haida narratives. Bears and shamans crowd the center to observe an octopus hoisting a killer whale in its beak. A low-relief pattern on the rim may register as organic abstraction. However, these motifs are based on details from the figures such as eyes, ears, and brows.
In the 19th century, Haida artists created argillite sculpture for outsiders such as the visiting US Navy officer who originally purchased this platter.
In the 19th century, Haida artists created argillite sculpture for outsiders such as the visiting US Navy officer who originally purchased this platter.
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