Category: FAQ

The Frog Symbol – Native Art Symbols And Meanings

The frog holds great significance in Northwest Coast Native art and culture, frequently appearing on totem poles, house posts, and various household items.

In nature, frogs seamlessly transition between water and land, symbolizing renewal, transformation, and the changing seasons. Their loud croaking in the spring signals the end of winter ceremonies for Northwest Coast tribes, marking the time to prepare for the upcoming hunting and fishing season.

Across many Indigenous cultures in North and South America, frogs are seen as healers. Some ancient European traditions also recognize their healing abilities, believing their songs possess magical and divine power. Shamans consider frogs to be powerful spirit helpers, capable of cleansing bad spirits.

As a supernatural being, the frog exists in both the human and spirit worlds, serving as a bridge between the two realms. Its adaptability allows it to communicate between these worlds with ease.

In Northwest Coast art, frogs are often depicted with wide mouths and protruding tongues, as seen in Wak’es, Tree Frog. When a frog’s tongue touches another creature, it represents the sharing of knowledge and power, as illustrated in Sharing Knowledge.

On totem poles, frogs are typically placed at the base with their legs stretched out, symbolizing stability. Among the Haida, they are also carved into house posts to provide structural support.

Beyond their spiritual significance, frogs represent wealth, abundance, ancient wisdom, rebirth, and good fortune.

Native Canadian art print titled Sharing Knowledge by Alvin Child
Sharing Knowledge
by Alvin Child

What is your return policy?

You can feel 100% confident about your purchase from Cedar Hill Long House Native Art Prints. That is why we offer a 14-day-no-hassle, return policy.

If for any reason you are not satisfied with your purchase, simply let us know that you wish to return the item(s) you bought. You will be given a 100% refund for the purchase amount, excluding any shipping fees.

Refunds will be processed within 2 business days of receiving the returned item.

Click here to see our entire inventory of Indigenous art prints.

What is the difference between a serigraph and a giclee?

Serigraphs are made by hand through a process called silk screen printing. They are original art, not reproduction prints. During the printing process a hand cut stencil of an image is placed on a taut screen with paper underneath. Ink is then spread on top and forced through the screen onto the paper with a squeegee. The resulting print has great colour density and saturation.

By contrast, giclée printing is a print reproduction method using pigment-based ink. This type of ink lasts longer than conventional dye-based ink. During the printing process an ink jet printer is used to reproduce the original either on canvas, or on paper. This is accomplished by placing ink dots very closely to create the overall image at a resolution of no less than 300 dots per inch. This ensures that the final print has great detail.

At Cedar Hill Long House Native Art Prints we sell serigraphs and giclees. Please visit our online gallery.

What is a printer’s proof?

A printer’s proof (PP) is a print set aside from an edition for the printer’s use. PP’s are notated with the letters PP and a number. The total number of PP’s produced is up to the artist, but it is usually just one or two.

Due to their very low numbers, if a PP is made available for sale, it will typically sell at a higher price than the regular edition.

Please see our Susan Point and Roy Henry Vickers printer’s proofs.

What is an artist’s proof?

An artist’s proof (AP) is a print set aside from an edition for the artist’s use. AP’s are notated with the letters AP and a number. The total number of AP’s produced is up to the artist, but it is usually a percentage of the size of the edition run.

Due to their low numbers, if an AP is made available for sale, it will typically sell at a higher price than the regular edition.

Click here to see our entire inventory of Indigenous art prints.

Why are limited edition prints more expensive than other prints?

The price of limited edition prints is a function of the limited supply of the product, and its quality. Typically, smaller editions will be more expensive. The number of colours used (in screen printing) and the popularity of the artist will also determine the value.

Click here to see our entire inventory of limited edition Northwest coast art prints.

Will the value of a limited edition print increase like other collector’s items?

By their nature of being limited in number, demand for certain limited edition prints can be greater than the total number of prints produced for the edition. Once the publisher has sold out of the edition, the prints are considered to be on the secondary market. At this point a print often sells above issue price, depending on demand.

Click here to see our entire inventory of limited edition Native art prints.

What is a limited edition serigraph?

A limited edition serigraph, or silk screen print, is a print from an edition which is limited to a one-time printing of a certain number of pieces. The artist typically signs and numbers each print.

Silk screening, which was introduced in its modern form around 1907, is also known as serigraph printing. During the process, a stencil of an image is placed on a taut screen with paper underneath. Ink is then spread on top and forced through the screen onto the paper with a squeegee.

Unlike photo-offset, silkscreens (serigraphs) allow the artist to vary the colours and patterns while printing. A different screen is used for each colour in the print, and this results in a print with great colour density and many qualities of the original piece in terms of colour saturation. This also means that only one colour can be printed at a time, making the screen printing process slower than other methods of printing. However, in the fine art world, screenprints hold their high value due to their lightfast, rich, opaque colours, and their hand-produced appeal.

Artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein became famous for their vibrant, handcrafted serigraphs.

At Cedar Hill Long House Native Art Prints, all of our prints are limited edition silkscreen prints or serigraphs. Please visit our online gallery.