Beater

Item number E 1898.39 from the MAA: University of Cambridge.

Public

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Data
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Description

A slightly curved bark beater with a flat handle cut out of the bone of a whalebone. The rectangular face of the beater has seven parallel grooves cut along its length. The handle terminates in a slightly wider and bifurcating section.; Good

Context

An old label on the beater gives a Kwakiutl origin. The shape of cedar bark beaters is very similar for the whole of the Northwest Coast. The original European tribal names and, where possible, current tribal names have both been given in separate GLT fields.; Beaters were used as part of the manufacturing process of bark. The bark was stripped from cedar trees and soaked in fresh water until it was beaten to remove the inner fibres and separate strands. The material was then spun by rolling on the thighs to form threads. The threads were dried, and later dampened when being woven. The prepared threads were used to weave cloaks and other garments.