Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why did Northwest Coast artists begin using copper from whaling ships and shipwrecks?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Hohokam pottery — Native American art Pottery created by the Hohokam people, made of buff clay and painted with red designs.

Northwest Coast artists utilized copper from whaling ships and shipwrecks primarily as a vital source of raw material for their metalcraft. While some copper was obtained from local sources, the metal salvaged from these vessels—both as trade cargo and as scrap peeled from the hulls of wrecked ships—provided a consistent supply that artists could work with great skill.1

This copper was highly valued and transformed by Tlingit and Haida artists into various significant items, including fighting knives, masks, and decorative overlays for artworks. Additionally, it was used to create shield-shaped objects known as tinneh, which served as symbols of immense wealth and power within their society. By incorporating this accessible metal into their traditional artistic practices, these artists were able to produce highly prized items that reinforced the social status and prestige of the individuals who commissioned them.12