Feast Dish
Item number A6557 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.
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Description
Carved, wooden feast dish in the shape of a crouching wolf with its back hollowed out to make a long, deep bowl. Black and white painted ovoid denotes shoulder joint. The eyes, nose and teeth are carved and painted black and white. The paws are carved and act as support to the bowl. Sides are finely adzed in horizontal lines, while the interior is more boldly hollowed out to form a huge dish. There are two square holes on the head, probably for the attachment of ears. The bright paint appears to have been added later as there are older, very faded, images along the side of the dish.
History Of Use
Feast dishes were used primarily to hold food served to guests at important social occasions. Great “house dishes” could hold immense quantities of food. They also held their own names and histories, and were among the most valued privileges passed on through marriage and inheritance.
Iconographic Meaning
Wolf is often represented in Kwakwaka'wakw sculpture with an elongated and squared snout, and pointed ears.
Cultural Context
ceremonial; potlatch; status; privileges
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada before 1940
- Collected by Marius Barbeau and Arthur Price in Fort Rupert, British Columbia, Canada and Tsaxis, British Columbia, Canada during 1947
- Owned by Committee on Totem Poles before 1947
- Received from Committee on Totem Poles (Transferring institution) during 1947
What
- Name
- Feast Dish
- Identification Number
- A6557
- Type of Item
- dish
- Material
- paint and red cedar wood
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved and painted
- Overall
- height 54.3 cm, width 51.5 cm, depth 310.0 cm
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Fort Rupert, British Columbia, Canada and Tsaxis, British Columbia, Canada
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Field Collector
- Marius Barbeau and Arthur Price
- Previous Owner
- Committee on Totem Poles
- Received from
- Committee on Totem Poles (Transferring institution)
When
- Creation Date
- before 1940
- Collection Date
- during 1947
- Ownership Date
- before 1947
- Acquisition Date
- during 1947
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 2106/0010
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