Copper from the Hood

On view now at the British Museum

A copper-plated and painted car bonnet sculpture by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas

Museum number 2011,2012.1

A Haida Legacy in the British Museum

The British Museum acquired a significant piece from Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas’s acclaimed Copper from the Hood series, marking a pivotal addition to its North American collection.

This artwork reflects both contemporary innovation and deep-rooted Haida traditions.

As Kevin Griffin explained:

The Copper from the Hood series worked on several levels. As a medium scale two-dimensional work, it refers to house fronts and the design of regalia such as Chilkat robes. Made with copper leaf,  the rectangular shape echoes traditional Coppers which were a sign of wealth among the Haida. And by being made on an actual car hood, the use of a found object placed it within the arc of contemporary art history. In the particular work commissioned by the museum, the image is of a bird and a woodworm which could refer to the pet insect from Massett mythology which was allowed to grow so large by a girl who suckled it that it was killed by the Haida to stop it from eating all the food.

The term "Tercel," from the Latin word tersus, meaning smooth and polished, plays a central role in the hood’s design. The copper "shines like a brand new penny," and the painted image—a figure of a storyteller or possibly a bird—invites viewers to engage with the piece actively. Yahgulanaas’s intent is to place responsibility and authority into the hands of the observer, making each interaction unique and personal. The piece can be rotated to shift the predominant narrative in the work.

Yahgulanaas’s Copper from the Hood series not only reflects the Haida’s connection to the land and heritage but also engages with modern identity and the shifting symbols of wealth. In contemporary Haida Gwaii, cars have replaced traditional coppers as markers of status, and Yahgulanaas’s choice to use a car hood plays on this transition. This work becomes a testament to the enduring values and aesthetics of the Haida, blending the historical with the present.

The British Museum’s acquisition of this piece reflects an ongoing trend to diversify the cultural narratives represented in their collection.

Presented to the British Museum board of directors in front of the Rosetta Stone.

Object Exhibition History

• Perth, Western Australian Museum, Extraordinary Stories from the British Museum. 2011-2012 25 Oct - 5 Feb.

• Abu Dhabi, Manarat al Saadiyat, Treasures of the World's Cultures. 2012 Mar-Jul.

  Catalogue: Abu Dhabi, Manarat al Saadiyat, Catalogue : Treasures of the World’s Cultures (Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, 2012), page 333. ISBN 978-9948-16-597-2.

• Bonn, Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany, Treasures of the World's Cultures. 2012-2013 30 Nov-7 Apr.