Paired with a silver 20" chain.
Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral histories and artist descriptions.
Eagle is considered one of the most sacred figures as it has been said to carry the prayers of the people to the Creator and Eagles are frequently referenced in ceremonial contexts. Eagle feathers and down are customarily used in a variety of different ceremonies such as honouring a respected guest. In Northwest Coast artwork, Eagle is often depicted with a hooked beak and small ears.
Hummingbird is a popular figure in Northwest Coast artwork, especially in jewelry. Generally, Hummingbird has associations with joy, beauty, and good luck. A legend from the Kwakwaka'wakw says that Dzunuk'wa (guardian of the mountains and Wild Woman of the Woods) loved this little bird so much that she let him nest in her hair. In return, the Hummingbird looked like jewelry pinned in her hair. Of all the birds, Hummingbird is the most talented flyer as it can hover in one place, fly sideways, backwards, and forwards. It is agile and adaptable, and some say can teach us how to move forward. Hummingbird is usually depicted with a small round head and a long beak with a sharp point. Flowers are often included in a design with Hummingbird
Killer Whale is a common crest and being among many groups of the Northwest Coast, and one of the most prevalent depictions in the artwork. In some Haida oral traditions, Raven-Finned Killer Whale is a whale-chief and characterized by a Raven-headed dorsal fin. There are also Haida depictions of two-, three-, and even five-finned Killer Whales. It has been suggested that these supernatural figures may have originated from sightings of whale pods surfacing, with multiple dorsal fins visible above the water. Killer Whale’s familial bonds and skillfulness in teamwork can oftentimes lead to associations with communication, family, unity, and travel. Killer Whale is generally identified by a large ovoid eye, blowhole, dorsal fin, and tail flukes.
