Feast Dish Item Number: A7237 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Feast dish representation of a seal carved from a single log with the body deeply hollowed to form the bowl. The seal's face has carved ovoid eyes and crescent-shaped nostrils. The body is decorated with horizontal adzing except above the forefeet where vertical adzing suggests legs. Adzed fluting surrounds the rim of the bowl. Between the hind feet is a smaller bowl at the end of which is a small carved face. There are supporting legs under the rear of the body. The seal has traces of black, red, white and green paint.

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.

Cultural Context

ceremonial; potlatch; status

Iconographic Meaning

The seal was an important food resource and may represent wealth and abundance.

Item History

What

Name
Feast Dish
Identification Number
A7237
Type of Item
dish
Material
red cedar wood and paint
Manufacturing Technique
carved
Overall
height 44.7 cm, width 51.7 cm, depth 220.8 cm

Who

Culture
Kwakwaka'wakw
Previous Owner
Joe Johnny
Received from
Joe Johnny (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
British Columbia, Canada
Collected in
Smith Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Takus, British Columbia, Canada

When

Creation Date
during 1880
Ownership Date
before April 21, 1953
Acquisition Date
on April 21, 1953

Other

Condition
fair
Accession Number
1949/0003