Haida argillite carvers in the nineteenth century found a popular subject in representations of sea captains and other seagoing subjects. Many of the figures were sculpted solely of argillite, while others, like this fine example, include a piece of bone or ivory carved with features of the white man’s face. Here a sea officer is wearing a uniform cap atop his full head of wavy hair, no doubt a curiosity to the Haida. His high-collar uniform coat has a full double row of buttons and simple seams shown around the edges. The seams that attach the sleeves are depicted as fine zigzag lines around the shoulders; similarly fine seams appear at his collar and cuffs. His right hand holds a telescope while his left is neatly tucked into his coat pocket. The construction of his shoes is depicted, and his individually carved legs are covered with stovepipe pants. The figure is shown standing on a truncated pyramidal base carved of one piece with the human image.

A number of examples of such figures exist, carved in varying amounts of detail and size, each the encapsulation of an image of authority in a strange (to the Haida) occupation. This rather large figure was made for sale to a ship’s officer.

Steven C. Brown