Accession Number

Cultural Group

Material

Process

Region

Field Collector

Acquired

PRM Source

Dimension

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Description

Horn scoop, wide at one end and narrowing at the other, with small perforation by the handle. [CAK 19/04/2010]

Longer Description

Horn scoop, wide at one end and narrowing at the other, with small perforation by the handle. The vessel is made from a single piece of horn that has been steamed and moulded into shape. One end of the vessel is wider and flatter, with a gradual curve. The rim is bevelled along the sides and the wide end. The other end seems to form a handle, as it extends higher, becomes narrow, and may be carved on the outside with a figure. There is a small perforation in the handle. The horn is smooth, a dark brown colour, and the grain of the horn is visible. [CAK 19/04/2010]

Research Notes

The following information comes from Haida delegates who worked with the museum's collection in September 2009 as part of the project “Haida Material Culture in British Museums: Generating New Forms of Knowledge”:
This dish was viewed alongside other horn and wood vessels on Wednesday Sept 9, 2009. There are similarities between this vessel and 1891.49.63-.65, .69. Lucille Bell observed that the holes in these dishes may function in the same way as the holes in the handles of spoons, along the dishes to be hung on a wall when not in use. Diane Brown wondered if the hole in the dish indicated where a rivet would have been, and that the dish was actually a spoon missing its handle. Gwaai Edenshaw offered that rivets were used after something had been broken, and that originally they would have been one piece. Delegates wondered if these scoop-shaped horn vessels were used for drinking out of. Vern Williams noted that it could be used to take water in particular. Kwiaahwah Jones thought it was a drinking vessel used for soup, and she drew comparisons with Florence Edenshaw Davidson's biography (written by Margaret Blackman called 'During my Time') in which Florence describes drinking vessels and soup vessels and that each person would have had their own ladle or spoon that they would bring to feasts. Gaahlaay (Lonnie Young) also thought that this was more likely to be a scoop than a grease dish. [CAK 19/04/2010]

Although listed as a dish, this object may be the ladle of a spoon given its overall shape, lack of flat bottom, and slightly extended curved end where a handle may be attached. [CAK 05/05/2009]

Primary Documentation

Accession book entry (for 1891.49.62 - .71): From Rev. Ch. Harrison, 80 Halton Rd, Canonbury Sq. N. Collection of Haida objects collected by him.... - [1 of] 10 horn dishes. £45. [Purchase price includes 1891.49.1-110]

Accession book entry [Red numbers] - Containers other than pottery 104 A - L - (104.I.13) Dish for grease and berries, of mountain sheep's horn, smaller and plainer than the last [i.e. 1891.49.65], oval outline at the rim, rounded bottom, one end produced somewhat and thickened at the end, probably for carving into a face, as in following examples [i.e. 1891.49.67 - ]. Haida, Queen Charlotte Id. Obtd. by Rev. C. Harrison. Purchased from him 1891.

No additional information on catalogue cards. [JC 4 9 1996]

Written on object - [on inside of bowl] 104.I.13; [on outside of bowl] 104.I.13 DISH FOR GREASE AND BERRIES. HAIDA. C.HARRISON COLLN. PURCHASED 1891. [CAK 05/05/2009]

Related Documents File - The Haida Project Related Documents File contains video of research sessions and interviews with Haida delegates from September 2009 as part of the project ‘Haida Material Culture in British Museums: Generating New Forms of Knowledge'. It also includes post-visit communications that discuss object provenance. For extensive photographic, video, and textual records documenting the Haida research visit as a whole, including but not limited to preparations of objects for handling, travel logistics, British Museum participation, transcribed notes from research sessions and associated public events held at PRM, see the Haida Project Digital Archive, stored with the Accessions Registers. Original hand-written notes taken during research sessions have been accessioned into the Manuscripts collection, in addition to select other materials. [CAK 02/06/2010]