2024 Donation to The Museum of Northern BC from Philanthropist Gary Bell of Vancouver
This delicately carved and painted clapper was collected by R.J. Dundas at Metlakatla in 1863. Clappers
are musical instruments used in ceremonial events on the Northwest Coast. The clapper may have been
carved specifically for sale or may have been in use by the Tsimshian before it was sold. The entire
Dundas collection was sold at Sotheby’s in 2006 and this clapper was eventually resold to Gary Bell, who
very generously donated it to the Museum of Northern BC in 2024. He previously also donated several
bowls from the collection.
The artwork is classic Tsimshian and the painting, dashing and carving is very meticulous. The technical
ability to carve the wings and tail as one piece and hollow it out at the same time is amazing. The binding
is original and intact.
Plaster cast of a prehistoric carved stone slab found at the confluence of the Kispiox and Skeena Rivers.
The original carved stone is said to have been collected by Harlan I. Smith in 1919, but it’s location today is unknown. William Beynon made a sketch of the carving and of the location where it was found - in the ground at the site of the ancient Wolf village of the Git’anspayaux (Kispiox people). The carved images are said to possibly represent the Dragonfly one of the crests of a Kispiox Wolf chief. The cast was donated to the Museum of Northern BC for safe keeping in 1925 and remains in the Museum’s collection.