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ITEM NUMBER: AK1542
Haida Argillite Totem by Jay Simeon
$40,000
Description
Details
Dimensions
LARGE HAIDA ARGILLITE POLE BY JAY SIMEON (HAIDA/BLACKFOOT, b. 1976) 29"H, base 3 3/4" x 3 3/4"
Jay Simeon is among the most sought-after contemporary Haida artists working today and is represented by some of the leading galleries of Northwest Coast art in Vancouver and Seattle. Born in Fort McLeod, Alberta, to a Haida father and Blackfoot mother, Simeon has been creating Haida artwork since 1990.
Simeon is a master artist known for his wood, argillite, and jewelry. Working in both miniature and monumental scales, Simeon’s work always maintains the highest standards of craftsmanship regardless of the media or size. Simeon’s mature, minimalist style of Haida art is often compared to legendary Haida artists such as Bill Reid (1920-1998) and Robert Davidson (b. 1946).
This massive pole features a staggering 14 figures carved into 29 inches of argillite. Argillite carvings of this size are rare today because they require large, unbroken pieces of argillite to make (which are increasingly hard to source in the Slatechuck Mountain argillite quarry).
The pole dates to 2002 and is from an early and important time in Simeon’s career, reflecting both his earlier, classic Haida sculptural training and his later interest in minimalism and experimental 2-dimensional design. The pole is an exceptional masterpiece for both its huge scale and its tight, arabesque interlacing of carved figures.
The pole features, from the top: Waasgo (Sea Wolf) with Killer Whale dorsal fins as ears, Dogfish/Shark with a pair of Frog-like figures emerging from her wings, Hawkman, Raven biting Halibut with Human Face, and the Bear Mother with Human faces in her ears, Bear Cubs tucked under each arm, and an inverted Human figure in her mouth.
The main figures are carved in a classic and bold Haida monumental style, while the secondary figures and two-dimensional design elements in the tertiary spaces allude to Simeon’s then-emerging interest in modernist interpretations of Haida customary art.
The bold primary sculptural forms of the figures and care in the details of this piece recalls the best work of Reid and really illustrates Simeon’s skills and growth as an artist over his career. The pole is mounted to a rounded-edge, chamfered argillite base and signed and dated on the bottom. A true masterwork.
This is a large or fragile item, so shipping will not calculate on our website. Please contact the Gallery at (208) 769-7575; info@ciscosgallery.com to get a shipping quote, or to purchase.
Jay Simeon is among the most sought-after contemporary Haida artists working today and is represented by some of the leading galleries of Northwest Coast art in Vancouver and Seattle. Born in Fort McLeod, Alberta, to a Haida father and Blackfoot mother, Simeon has been creating Haida artwork since 1990.
Simeon is a master artist known for his wood, argillite, and jewelry. Working in both miniature and monumental scales, Simeon’s work always maintains the highest standards of craftsmanship regardless of the media or size. Simeon’s mature, minimalist style of Haida art is often compared to legendary Haida artists such as Bill Reid (1920-1998) and Robert Davidson (b. 1946).
This massive pole features a staggering 14 figures carved into 29 inches of argillite. Argillite carvings of this size are rare today because they require large, unbroken pieces of argillite to make (which are increasingly hard to source in the Slatechuck Mountain argillite quarry).
The pole dates to 2002 and is from an early and important time in Simeon’s career, reflecting both his earlier, classic Haida sculptural training and his later interest in minimalism and experimental 2-dimensional design. The pole is an exceptional masterpiece for both its huge scale and its tight, arabesque interlacing of carved figures.
The pole features, from the top: Waasgo (Sea Wolf) with Killer Whale dorsal fins as ears, Dogfish/Shark with a pair of Frog-like figures emerging from her wings, Hawkman, Raven biting Halibut with Human Face, and the Bear Mother with Human faces in her ears, Bear Cubs tucked under each arm, and an inverted Human figure in her mouth.
The main figures are carved in a classic and bold Haida monumental style, while the secondary figures and two-dimensional design elements in the tertiary spaces allude to Simeon’s then-emerging interest in modernist interpretations of Haida customary art.
The bold primary sculptural forms of the figures and care in the details of this piece recalls the best work of Reid and really illustrates Simeon’s skills and growth as an artist over his career. The pole is mounted to a rounded-edge, chamfered argillite base and signed and dated on the bottom. A true masterwork.
This is a large or fragile item, so shipping will not calculate on our website. Please contact the Gallery at (208) 769-7575; info@ciscosgallery.com to get a shipping quote, or to purchase.
PERIOD: Mid 21st CenturyORIGIN: Northwest Coast - Haida, Native American
SIZE: 29"H, base 3 3/4" x 3 3/4"
