Dish

Item number E 1907.330 from the MAA: University of Cambridge.

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Description

Wooden dish carved in the shape of a frog resting on its legs. It is decorated with green and blue background paint with red dots. The inside of the bowl has been painted red in two bands. The eyes on this figure are rather crude in style (G.Crowther).; Good

Context

Underneath a label reads Muk-muk box, frog design used by the Tlinkit (sic) Indians, Alaska. The original European tribal names and, where possible, current tribal names have both been given in separate GLT fields.; Grease dishes often have more easily identifiable creatures, carved in the configurative style. I have distinguished them from bowls due to this ease of identification, but must also note that some bowls were also used for grease. It is possible the ease of identification reduced the exchange potential of the object. The grease dishes were used for oolichan and seal grease into which food was dipped during feasts and potlatches. Similar to spoons and bowls the use of objects decorated with crests demarcated potlatches and feasts as events removed from everyday existence.The crests carved on objects were possibly those of the owner representing a tangible connection between the lineage and the economic resources consumed during the feasting. This dish appears to have been painted prior to sale, but possibly after indigenous use. The red paint inside the dish covers a slight grease stain on the sides. (G.Crowther).; Exhibited: CUMAA old Anthropological displays, Case 30, dismantled 19081986.