Header - Thunder Bird Park

Title - Late Park

Haida Posts, 1955
Carvers: Mungo Martin, David Martin and Henry Hunt
Based on: Haida Corner Posts

 

Haida PostsThunderbird Park, 1954. BC Government photograph. BC Archives I-26974.

 

 

 

In contrast to the earlier pseudo-Northwest Coast house frame that was erected in Thunderbird Park in 1941, this Haida house façade frame intended to show the house’s authentic structure and the function of the house frontal poles and corner posts. Replica carvings in Thunderbird Park were customarily copied from carvings in the museum’s collection. In contrast, these corner posts were based on archival photographs. They appear in images of lragilda ‘llnagaay (Skidegate) taken by George M. Dawson in 1878 when the big house was still occupied, and by Richard Maynard in 1884 when a new, small European style house had been erected within the older house frame. The replica posts were removed to museum storage when the house frame was dismantled.
RBCM 17727, 17728.


Close up of watchman figureThunderbird Park, 1954. BC Government photograph. BC Archives I-26974.
    Close up of watchman figureThunderbird Park, 1954. BC Government photograph. BC Archives I-26974.
Watchmen figures wearing potlatch hats top each post. Watchmen are customarily depicted wearing these hats, the rings (skils) of which indicate wealth and status associated with potlatching.
Close up of slots in the postsThunderbird Park, 1954. BC Government photograph. BC Archives I-26974.
    Close up of slots in the postsThunderbird Park, 1954. BC Government photograph. BC Archives I-26974.
Slots in the posts support the wide, adzed gables of the house. Like the Watchmen figures, this detail is based on the structure of traditional Haida houses, as seen in archival photographs.
Haida Posts in situhlragilda ‘llnagaay (Skidegate), 1884. Richard Maynard photograph.
RBCM PN 16037.
Close up of Haida Posts in situhlragilda ‘llnagaay (Skidegate), 1884. Richard Maynard photograph.
RBCM PN 16037.
Close up of Haida Posts in situhlragilda ‘llnagaay (Skidegate), 1884. Richard Maynard photograph.
RBCM PN 16037.
Haida Post in situhlragilda ‘llnagaay (Skidegate), 1878. George M. Dawson photograph.
RBCM PN 1020.
Haida Post in situhlragilda ‘llnagaay (Skidegate), 1878. George M. Dawson photograph.
RBCM PN 1020.
Close up of Haida Post in situhlragilda ‘llnagaay (Skidegate), 1878.
George M. Dawson photograph.
RBCM PN 1020.
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