Christian White, HAIDA, Waasgo and the Lazy Son-in-Law, 1989

Lot description

CHRISTIAN WHITE (1962-) OLD MASSET, HAIDA GWAII Waasgo and the Lazy Son-in-Law, 1989 argillite, mother of pearl, and pāua shell, 3.5 x 7.25 x 3.5 in (8.9 x 18.4 x 8.9 cm) signed with artist’s stylized initials, inscribed, and dated, “CW / HAIDA 89". Provenance Private Collection, Toronto. In this intense argillite sculpture, Haida master carver Christian White has depicted the supernatural being, Waasgo, guarding its prey. The sculpture appears to illustrate the part of the Lazy Son-in-Law story in which the Mother-in-Law, posing as a Medicine Woman, makes a series of predictions about what animals from the sea will appear on the shore for the starving village every morning. Each is grander than the last: Halibut, Sea Lion, and even multiple Killer Whales. Ultimately, it is the difficulty of this last prognostication that takes the life of her Son-in-Law, who has been secretly fulfilling her prophecies in the skin of the Waasgo each night. Demonstrating his mastery of miniature-scale sculpture, White has imbued the Waasgo with a lithe grace. The slight turn of the Waasgo’s head breathes life into the work and conveys the power of this supernatural being. The Waasgo is depicted with the head of a Bear, forelegs with fin projections, sharp claws, three dorsal fins, and flukes with a Human face. The four Killer Whales are depicted between the dorsal fins, in the flukes, and on the sides of the Waasgo. The Sea Lion is held under the Waasgo’s left leg (on the backside of the carving), while the Halibut is carved between its claws and under the chin of the Waasgo. CWS