 |
The collection of Edward Harris is unusual for the circumstances
under which it was obtained. Rather than working in one of the Hudson's
Bay trading posts, Harris was stationed in London as a broker for the
Hudson's Bay Company. His son, S. H. Harris, sold his father's collection
to the Geological Survey of Canada in 1914.
"My father was not himself out in the Hudson's Bay Territory,
but held an important position in the London office; and being interested
in these things, specimens were sent home to him by officers in the
country. They came by the Company's ships, chiefly from Victoria, B.C.,
the MacKenzie River district, the Hudson's Bay & the Esquimaux, I
think, of the North Labrador."*
S. H. Harris dates the items of his father's collection
from around 1870. According to company records, Edward Harris retired
in 1892 (HBC Archives, A.1/155, pp.37-38).
*(Letter of June 2nd, 1914 to Edgar Sapir, Head of the
Division of Anthropology, Geological Survey of Canada), CMC Archives.
Model Dogsled, circa 1870
Labrador
Ivory, black thread, sealskin
Total length: 43 cm
Sled: 2.5 x 13.5 x 2.7 cm
CMC IV-X-86
Collected by Edward Harris, broker at Hudson's Bay Company, London,
England
|
 |
Ivory carvings made for trade in Labrador during the second half
of the nineteenth century were true miniatures, depicting aspects of
the traditional Inuit way of life in tiny scenes. Note the meticulous
details, such as the powder horn and ammunition bag.
Man in Kayak, circa 1870
Labrador
Ivory, sinew, black and brown colouring
Man & kayak: 4 x 21 x 2.5 cm
Paddle: 13.5 cm long
CMC IV-X-84
Collected by Edward Harris, broker at Hudson's Bay Company, London,
England
|
|
Both the European-style hat and the red cheeks indicate that this
may be a representation of a European trader or visitor to Labrador.
We can only speculate whether this was perhaps "commissioned"
as a portrait. The tiny harpoon head is a perfect miniature model of
this important hunting tool.
 |
|
Bird, 1870
Labrador (?)
Ivory, black colouring
4.2 x 2.3 x 1.4 cm
CMC IV-X-90 a
Collected by Edward Harris, broker at Hudson's Bay Company, London,
England
|
|
The hole pierced through the tail of the bird, and the object's
rough surface and simple shape, may indicate that this figure was made
for personal use, rather than as a souvenir. It may have been part of
a belt of amulets.
Bird, circa 1870
Labrador (?)
Ivory, black colouring
2.5 x 2.5 x 1.6 cm
CMC IV-X-90 b
Collected by Edward Harris, broker at Hudson's Bay Company, London,
England
|
|
 |
|
Similar to catalogue # IV-X-90 a, this little bird sculpture has a
rough surface and very little detail. The hole in its tail leads us to
assume that it was part of a belt or necklace of amulets, created for
personal use before it was sold.
|
