Ornament

Item number 1947.575 from the MAA: University of Cambridge.

Public

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Data
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Description

The catalogue card states, Fine ivory tusk-shaped ornament,...carved with two copulating creatures, probably a seal facing away from point and a man facing towards it. However the shape of the object suggests it is a spoon handle as below the human face a recess has been cut where the bowl of the spoon could be attached. The reverse side of the handle, below the human feet appears to have been broken, having sharper edges than the rest of the object. This is consistent with the idea that it was at one time a spoon handle. Furthermore the creatures do not appear to be copulating, and the animal is more reminiscent of a bear than a seal (G.Crowther).; Good

Context

Geoffrey Bushnell the cataloguer on the original card ascribes the object as perhaps Haida, probably Tlingit , however it is hard to assert a definite provenance (G.Crowther). The original European tribal names and, where possible, current tribal names have both been given in separate GLT fields.