Heiltsuk (Bella Bella). <em>House Post, from a Set of Four</em>, 19th century. Cedar wood, 105 3/4 x 32 3/4 x 21in. (268.6 x 83.2 x 53.3cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1911, Museum Collection Fund, 11.700.4. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 11.700.4_acetate_bw.jpg)

Heiltsuk (Bella Bella). House Post, from a Set of Four, 19th century. Cedar wood, 105 3/4 x 32 3/4 x 21in. (268.6 x 83.2 x 53.3cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1911, Museum Collection Fund, 11.700.4. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 11.700.4_acetate_bw.jpg)

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Was Native American sculpture such as Heiltsuk house posts already influenced by western art in the 19th C.?

By the 19th century, there had been over 100 years of trade between the First Peoples of the Northwest Coast, such as the Heiltsuk, and European traders (Russian and Spanish especially) as well as Euro-Canadian and Euro-American expansionists coming towards the West Coast from further east.

It's hard to say, however, exactly how much particular Western art influence appeared in these specific examples (and the contact between Heiltsuk carvers and Western artists or Western art would have been spotty). We often seen more Western influence coming into objects made for trade and markets, which could reflect the tastes of the market (rather than use and family history/family crests as represented here).

Please tell the curators that the wall copy is excellent.

So clear, respectful of reader and free of art historical jargon.

Absolutely! I would also add that by the end of the 19th century, the collection of Native American sculptures such as this one was starting to influence Western art!

This would have held up a house?

This House Post was carved by a Heiltsuk artist from British Columbia. The two posts you see here, as well as two more in our collection that are not currently on view, would have supported the framework of a cedar house belonging to the Wígvilhba Wákas Chieftainship. The figures on the House Posts depict the creation story of the Eagle Clan.

How do people know about the evolution of Native American Indian belief systems, like with house posts? Are their stories documented in writing and passed down?

Information, such as stories and beliefs, are passed down from generation to generation, usually orally. For many years, the US and Canadian governments did attempt to disrupt Native traditions, but many were able to keep them alive.

Scholars and curators do consult with the nations and tribes to which an object originates. For example, information about what is represented on these house posts comes from the current chief of the clan who created them.

Interesting! Thank you.

You're very welcome! For objects in our Arts of the Americas collection, the curators absolutely make efforts to speak with the living communities about the objects, their history, and how a work is to be treated and discussed, or even if it should be returned.

This totem pole is incredible. Are these particular to the Americas?

This is actually a house post, one of a set of four! They were interior posts used to support roof beams. This style of carving, which is also seen in totem poles, which is also found in totem poles, is common to certain areas of the Americas, yes.

This post comes from the Northwest Coast of the Americas and was made by a Heiltsuk artist. This one in particular comes from a cedar plank house belonging to the Wígvilhba Wákas Chieftainship.

Tell me more.

This house post and the one on view nearby were once part of the structure of a cedar plank house that belonged to the Wígvilhba Wákas Chieftainship in British Columbia. All four of the house posts from the structure are arranged in a similar way, large figures holding smaller ones. Together they reference the creation story of the Eagle Clan. The larger figure with the beak nose is the most important figure from the story—representing the supernatural eagle that created Yálátli (Goose Island), while the smaller figure may represents the humans who came to live on the island or the chiefs who trace their lineage back to the supernatural eagle.

What’s he holding?

The artist is using hierarchical scale to show who the important figure is in the post. This post, its partner on the opposite wall, and two others tell the creation story of the Eagle clan.

If you look at the figure to the left, you'll notice that the larger figure has a beak nose. He represents the supernatural eagle that created Yálátli (Goose Island). The smaller figure may represent the humans who came to live or chiefs who trace their lineage back to the supernatural eagle.

Is this one piece of wood, or more?

The house post your sent a photo of was indeed made of one piece of wood, Cedar wood to be exact!

How old is the wood that was used to carve this?

This house post is from the Heiktsuk eagle clan of Yalatli (Goose Island). The wood is cedar, and was approximately 150 years old when it was cut down specifically to make this house post.

House Post, from a Set of Four

Arts of the Americas

On View: Arts of the Americas Galleries, 5th Floor

These two house posts depict the creation story of the Heiltsuk eagle clan and its ancestral homeland, Yálátli (Goose Island): In the beginning of time, many of the world’s inhabitants were animals and supernatural creatures. Some could take off their fur and feathers and assume human form, while others always remained in their supernatural form. One day, a supernatural eagle with a human face and a bird’s beak saw a whale in the water and tried to seize it for food. After a mighty struggle, the eagle flipped the whale over and began to devour it, spilling the whale’s intestines into the water, where they piled up to form Yálátli. The eagle decided to live on the island, becoming human and adopting the name Wigvilhba Wákas (Eagle Nose), which has been passed down through the generations and is today held by Chief Harvey Humchitt.

CULTURE Heiltsuk (Bella Bella)

MEDIUM Cedar wood

Place Made: Waglisla (Bella Bella), British Columbia, Canada

DATES 19th century

DIMENSIONS 105 3/4 x 32 3/4 x 21in. (268.6 x 83.2 x 53.3cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas

ACCESSION NUMBER 11.700.4

CREDIT LINE Museum Expedition 1911, Museum Collection Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION House post made of cedar wood, dark and unpainted. Two figures include a large humanoid figure holding a small humanoid figure. The small figure is held in front of the larger figure's chest area. Each head has carved brows, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. There is also a small humanoid head with carved features between the knees of the larger figure. Frontal figures and head are carved in high relief. Back is roughly carved and relatively flat. House post is fragile. There are cracks throughout. There are exceptional losses of wood on and behind small head at bottom. There are miscellaneous holes, especially on the nose of the larger figure. Missing parts include a portion of the left hand and upper lip of the large figure as well as the left foot of the small figure. The back of larger figure's head is hollowed out. The post is very fibrous along the edge of the bottom. This house post is from a set of four (see 11.700.1-.2-.3).

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Arts of the Americas Galleries, 5th Floor

CAPTION Heiltsuk (Bella Bella). House Post, from a Set of Four, 19th century. Cedar wood, 105 3/4 x 32 3/4 x 21in. (268.6 x 83.2 x 53.3cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1911, Museum Collection Fund, 11.700.4. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 11.700.4_acetate_bw.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 11.700.4_acetate_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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