Feast Ladle Item Number: A6428 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Large wooden ladle with the top of the handle carved in the form of a raven with a long, downturned beak and two claws perched on the handle. The handle is rectangular in shape with a human hand, carved in relief, emerging at the base of the bowl as if to hold the ladle. The raven is painted red, green and black.
History Of Use
Ladles were used to serve food from large feast dishes into smaller vessels. Feasting occurred at ceremonies and potlatches, as well as other important social occasions. The figures represented on feast dishes and ladles were crest figures, which owners had the rights to display, through their histories and origins, as family privileges.
Cultural Context
ceremonial; potlatch; status
Narrative
One of twelve belongings loaned back for display at the Dawson family potlatch in Alert Bay, Aug 2019.
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada during 1900
- Collected in Kingcome Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Ukwanalis, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by William Dawson
- Owned by Alice Mountain before January 1954
- Received from Alice Mountain (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) during January 1954
What
- Name
- Feast Ladle
- Identification Number
- A6428
- Type of Item
- ladle
- Material
- red cedar wood and paint
- Overall
- height 28.0 cm, width 32.3 cm, depth 119.2 cm
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- William Dawson and Alice Mountain
- Received from
- Alice Mountain (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Kingcome Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Ukwanalis, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- during 1900
- Ownership Date
- before January 1954
- Acquisition Date
- during January 1954
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 1893/0002