Ritual Platter Item Number: A17201 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Ritual spell or curse on a platter. Food platter is white with silver decoration around rim. Covering the dish is a drawing of a human figure made of a mixture of red ochre and oil.
History Of Use
According to the accession records this is a Cowichan spell / curse on a platter: "The woman represented was asked for a dish that both she and her neglectful husband used. In drawing the figure, the person who made the dish left the arms until last. The significance being that the right arm (as you face the dish) is the husband's lifeline - it was drawn first and extends to the crotch, the woman's lifeline (the left arm) was then drawn, and the crotch overlaps her husband's lifeline thus giving her control over her husband. (Della Kew, Musqueam, 1973).
Cultural Context
shamanism; ritual
Iconographic Meaning
The figure represents a woman whose husband was neglecting her and her children.
Narrative
The platter was donated for research purposes only; it is not to be viewed by the public.
Item History
- Made by Johnson Bros (Manufacturer) in Koksilah, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Howard Roloff before March 2, 1973
- Received from Howard Roloff (Donor) on March 2, 1973
What
- Name
- Ritual Platter
- Identification Number
- A17201
- Type of Item
- platter
- Material
- clay, silver alloy metal, oil ?, ochre mineral and glaze
- Overall
- height 2.4 cm, width 27.4 cm, depth 35.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Coast Salish: Quwutsun'
- Creator
- Johnson Bros (Manufacturer)
- Previous Owner
- Howard Roloff
- Received from
- Howard Roloff (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Koksilah, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Ownership Date
- before March 2, 1973
- Acquisition Date
- on March 2, 1973
Other
- Item Classes
- ceramics; porcelain
- Accession Number
- 1807/0001