NW Pacific Native Silver & Gold Jewellery

[VRS]

NW Pacific jewellery, totems & masks have always been big faves of mine having spent a lot of time in British Columbia over the last 20+ years. I have around 100 timber & argillite carvings ranging from small touch pieces to masks & totems up to a metre & a half long, plus silver & gold jewellery many of which were bought from Hills in Water Street Gastown Vancouver over that period.

The traditional imagery translates across art, jewellery, carving, textile and folklore. For a background on the tribes themselves see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Pacific_Northwest_Coast & for general background on the various artforms see http://www.milkywayjewels.com/nwi_jewels.html

Here's a list of some of the stores/galleries etc which act as go-between for artists - the craftsmanship is top league and many skills are passed down thru families, men focussing on wood, argillite & metal carving, women on textiles & traditional costume mainly.

(The term 'NW Pacific' refers to the NW American seabord from Oregon up towards northern British Columbia & Alaska, rather than for us Down Under of course)

Hope u like,
x

http://theravenscall.ca/en/art/gallery/jewelry Bill Reid jewellery retrospective collection
http://www.spiritsofthewestcoast.com/category/native_american_jewelry/
http://walkergoldsmiths.com/bracelets/
http://www.pathgallery.com/itoolkit.asp?pg=products&grp=24
http://www.davidmorgan.com/index.php?cPath=5_112&page=all
http://www.blacktusk.ca/itoolkit.asp?pg=products&grp=34
http://alturl.com/q4g54 Google image search 'bracelet gold nw pacific haida'
http://gemandjewelrydoctor.com/2012...ewelry-to-the-university-of-british-columbia/ Bill Reid, National Artist - Responsible for the massive sculptures installed at Vancouver Airport & Van Aquarium
http://www.mint.ca/store/mint/learn/10-kilo-coin-6500002?lang=en_CA&rcmeid=van_10kilo Royal Canadian Mint 10kg Gold Coin & YouTube Video on Bill Reid's design

 

[TheMineTech]

Too cool to see this post VRS,
If you take a look at that first wiki link you posted I am Kwakwaka'wakw, Namgis tribe.

Glad you like our artwork, I would love to see some photo's of you collection. Probably some of my family members work amongst it all.

 

[Jislizard]

I like the Salt Spring Dollar

Source: http://saltspringdollars.com/about-us/specimens.html

But they have always been a bit too expensive, might just have to take another look at them for my community currency collection.

 

[VRS]

Wow wow wow! MineTech - Welcome buddy - I'm a long termer on BC first nation art - At one point I thought I had a serious addiction - but after 20+ years I regard it as a serious hobby lol! I have a few sketches by Bill Reid, and also quite a lot of totems by the Williams family too... Love the stuff. BC's been my second home for a long time. Jislizard - LOVE the SSI coin - never seen one before - although the Haida killer whale I've had on my shoulder for the last 8 years is a constant companion... Beautiful - thanks for these chaps