Gitkinjuaas (Ron Wilson), hereditary chief of Cumshewa, also known as Giitxaas and earlier by Gitsgah, is celebrated for his argillite carvings and jewelry. Most of his works bear the signature Gitsgah, the name under which he produced much of his career output. Active since the 1960s, he studied at the Vancouver School of Decorative and Applied Arts (now Emily Carr University) under the guidance of master carver Henry Hunt. Today, he continues to carve and remains a vital figure within his Haida community.

This Model Swimming Beaver Form Bowl demonstrates the artist’s finesse at an early stage of his practice. The rim flows in a graceful, undulating line, conjuring the movement of water, while the beaver’s head rises naturally from the vessel’s form. The surface gleams with polish, heightening the contrast with the precise incised details: the extended legs pressed to the sides as if in motion, and the tail, tipped upward and ornamented with a human face. Together, these elements create a composition that feels both fluid and sculptural, alive with balance and movement.