Item Records

This page shows all the information we have about this item. Both the institution that physically holds this item, and RRN members have contributed the knowledge on this page. You’re looking at the item record provided by the holding institution. If you scroll further down the page, you’ll see the information from RRN members, and can share your own knowledge too.

The RRN processes the information it receives from each institution to make it more readable and easier to search. If you’re doing in-depth research on this item, be sure to take a look at the Data Source tab to see the information exactly as it was provided by the institution.

These records are easy to share because each has a unique web address. You can copy and paste the location from your browser’s address bar into an email, word document, or chat message to share this item with others.

  • Data
  • Data Source

This information was automatically generated from data provided by MAA: University of Cambridge. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.

Description

Spoon of mountain-goat horn with an elaborately carved handle. The humanoid at the tip of the handle has a frog clasped to its chest, with their tongues joined. This figure is standing on an abalone inlaid headdress of a humanoid/bird creature.; Good

Context

The original European tribal names and, where possible, current tribal names have both been given in separate GLT fields. On the catalogue card the following references are cited :- Man, Vol.Vl, 1906 page 145, and Dramas and Dramatic Dances, page 361, fig.76.; The catalogue card provides detail of the debate over the gender of the humanoid. The original label Ridgeway prepared for the spoon stated, A spoon carved with a woman is a crest of a Nass River Tribe (not far from the Haidas) whilst another Nass phratry has a Halibut shaman as the crest. These make good parallels to the woman and the Eagle or Hawk shaman on my spoon. See Edward Sapir' s monograph on Nass River Tribes, Canadian Government Anthropology Series, No.7, page 127. However Ridgeway changed his mind, perhaps as a result of correspondence with Canon Bearlands, and the gender of the humanoid became male. Canon Bearlands wrote from Victoria, B.C, 11th December, By the bye all authorities I have consulted deny the femininity of the person on the spoon I gave you, or the soft- impeachment (?) suggested by her attitude. The hat alone is sufficient to prove the set, they say, and the curious osculation is not anatomy. Such spoons were used at feasts and potlatches, clearly demarcating the elaborate event from the everyday. The crests carved on the handle were possibly those of the owner representing a tangible connection between the lineage and the economic resources consumed during the feasting. The spoons were used for eating oolichan grease, berries, fish roe and fish (G.Crowther).The spoons were made by steaming and shaping the horn.; Exhibited: The catalogue card states, Exhibited Burlington Fine Arts Exhibition of Indigenous American Art 1920, Case A, No.8. . CUMAA new Anthropological displays 1990-.; Collected by: ?Bearlands.Canon

Item History

With an account, you can ask other users a question about this item. Request an Account

With an account, you can submit information about this item and have it visible to all users and institutions on the RRN. Request an Account

Similar Items