Argillite carving in progress
Artifact
Image
Video
Audio
Activities
LOOK
Look at the hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) carving at different stages in its creation. How would you explain the carving process, using your own words?
DO
What makes hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) such a special material? Read the historical context and related information provided in this section. Make a list of argillite characteristics.
Details
Date 2015
Materials - Argillite
Historical Context
Choose one of the three levels below to match your needs.
- These figures show the different stages of carving an hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) statue. It has formline designs and may represent a bear.
- HlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) is a type of soft stone found on Haida Gwaii. Argillite carving is an art form unique to the Haida Nation.
- These are the basic steps in carving argillite:
- Quarry large chunks of hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) by hand, and transport the stone down the tlldaG̱aaw (mountain).
- Use woodworking tools such as an adze or handsaw to block out the basic shape of the designs.
- Create details with specialty knives and gravers.
- Polish the hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) statue to a shine.
These figures show an hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) carving in different stages of completion. The formline designs may represent a bear.
HlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) is a type of stone found on Tllgaduu TlldaG̱aaw (Slatechuck Mountain), Haida Gwaii. As a result, argillite carving is an art form unique to the Haida Nation.
These are the basic steps in carving argillite:
- Quarry large chunks of hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) by hand, and transport the stone down the tlldaG̱aaw (mountain).
- Use woodworking tools such as an adze or handsaw to block out the basic shape of the designs.
- Create finer details with specialty knives and gravers.
- Polish the hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) statue to a shine.
These figures, made by XaaydG̱a hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas gya k’id (Haida argillite carver) and artist Patrick Wesley, show the different stages of carving an hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) figure. On the left, we see a raw chunk of argillite and on the right, a completed figure, which may represent a bear. The details on the figure’s body demonstrate formline style.
HlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) is a type of stone found on Tllgaduu TlldaG̱aaw (Slatechuck Mountain) near the Haida village of Skidegate. The Haida Nation has exclusive rights to quarry this material, which makes hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) carving a unique Haida art form.
Sourcing and carving hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) is a laborious process. First, the carver quarries the argillite by hand and packs large slabs of the stone down the tlldaG̱aaw (mountain). They use woodworking tools such as an adze or handsaw to carve a rough shape, and then use specialized knives and gravers for the finer details. The carver’s last step is to finely polish the surface of the hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) to make it shine.
- These figures show the different stages of carving an hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) statue. It has formline designs and may represent a bear.
- HlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) is a type of soft stone found on Haida Gwaii. Argillite carving is an art form unique to the Haida Nation.
- These are the basic steps in carving argillite:
- Quarry large chunks of hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) by hand, and transport the stone down the tlldaG̱aaw (mountain).
- Use woodworking tools such as an adze or handsaw to block out the basic shape of the designs.
- Create details with specialty knives and gravers.
- Polish the hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) statue to a shine.
These figures show an hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) carving in different stages of completion. The formline designs may represent a bear.
HlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) is a type of stone found on Tllgaduu TlldaG̱aaw (Slatechuck Mountain), Haida Gwaii. As a result, argillite carving is an art form unique to the Haida Nation.
These are the basic steps in carving argillite:
- Quarry large chunks of hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) by hand, and transport the stone down the tlldaG̱aaw (mountain).
- Use woodworking tools such as an adze or handsaw to block out the basic shape of the designs.
- Create finer details with specialty knives and gravers.
- Polish the hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) statue to a shine.
These figures, made by XaaydG̱a hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas gya k’id (Haida argillite carver) and artist Patrick Wesley, show the different stages of carving an hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) figure. On the left, we see a raw chunk of argillite and on the right, a completed figure, which may represent a bear. The details on the figure’s body demonstrate formline style.
HlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) is a type of stone found on Tllgaduu TlldaG̱aaw (Slatechuck Mountain) near the Haida village of Skidegate. The Haida Nation has exclusive rights to quarry this material, which makes hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) carving a unique Haida art form.
Sourcing and carving hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) is a laborious process. First, the carver quarries the argillite by hand and packs large slabs of the stone down the tlldaG̱aaw (mountain). They use woodworking tools such as an adze or handsaw to carve a rough shape, and then use specialized knives and gravers for the finer details. The carver’s last step is to finely polish the surface of the hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) to make it shine.
Summary
- These figures show the different stages of carving an hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) statue. It has formline designs and may represent a bear.
- HlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) is a type of soft stone found on Haida Gwaii. Argillite carving is an art form unique to the Haida Nation.
- These are the basic steps in carving argillite:
- Quarry large chunks of hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) by hand, and transport the stone down the tlldaG̱aaw (mountain).
- Use woodworking tools such as an adze or handsaw to block out the basic shape of the designs.
- Create details with specialty knives and gravers.
- Polish the hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) statue to a shine.
Essential
These figures show an hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) carving in different stages of completion. The formline designs may represent a bear.
HlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) is a type of stone found on Tllgaduu TlldaG̱aaw (Slatechuck Mountain), Haida Gwaii. As a result, argillite carving is an art form unique to the Haida Nation.
These are the basic steps in carving argillite:
- Quarry large chunks of hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) by hand, and transport the stone down the tlldaG̱aaw (mountain).
- Use woodworking tools such as an adze or handsaw to block out the basic shape of the designs.
- Create finer details with specialty knives and gravers.
- Polish the hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) statue to a shine.
In-Depth
These figures, made by XaaydG̱a hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas gya k’id (Haida argillite carver) and artist Patrick Wesley, show the different stages of carving an hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) figure. On the left, we see a raw chunk of argillite and on the right, a completed figure, which may represent a bear. The details on the figure’s body demonstrate formline style.
HlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) is a type of stone found on Tllgaduu TlldaG̱aaw (Slatechuck Mountain) near the Haida village of Skidegate. The Haida Nation has exclusive rights to quarry this material, which makes hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) carving a unique Haida art form.
Sourcing and carving hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) is a laborious process. First, the carver quarries the argillite by hand and packs large slabs of the stone down the tlldaG̱aaw (mountain). They use woodworking tools such as an adze or handsaw to carve a rough shape, and then use specialized knives and gravers for the finer details. The carver’s last step is to finely polish the surface of the hlG̱aa hlG̱ahl s’aagas (argillite) to make it shine.