Beater Item Number: E 1903.55 from the MAA: University of Cambridge
Description
A bark beater carved from whalebone. The handle of the beater is double ended, one being longer, and the other shorter with a round ended groove cut into its end. The slightly flared rectangular beater section has a cavity through its centre. Theunderside of the beater is scored with fourteen parallel grooves.; Good
Context
The original European tribal names and, where possible, current tribal names have both been given in separate GLT fields. The catalogue card states, See Indians of the Northwest Coast Smithsonian Report 1888 page 325. 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.; Exhibited: Old Anthropological displays at CUMAA, M 12, dismantled 1986.
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada
- Received from Anatole von Hgel during 1903
Who
- Culture
- Tlingit
- Received from
- Anatole von Hgel
Where
- Holding Institution
- MAA: University of Cambridge
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
When
- Acquisition Date
- during 1903
Other
- Keyword
- Barkcloth; Tools; Manufacturing Processes