Accession Number

Cultural Group

Material

Process

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Acquired

PRM Source

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Keyword

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Display History

Displayed in Rank, Status And Prestige On The Northwest Coast Of America, at PRM, 1996. Currently on display in the Lower Gallery, Case 58.A. [CAK 17/08/2009]

Description

Wooden bowl carved in the form of a seal with haliotis shell inlaid in the eyes and shell or tooth decorations (mostly missing) around the rim. [CAK 17/08/2009]

Longer Description

Wooden bowl carved in the form of a seal with haliotis shell inlaid in the eyes and shell or tooth decorations (mostly missing) around the rim. The bowl is carved from a single piece of wood, probably alder. The base is round and flat. The sides of the bowl extend outward from the base, particularly to form the head and tail of the seal. The sides of the bowl are decorated with formline designs, including suggestions of flippers on the side and at the rear of the animal. There is also a face design incised under the chin of the seal. The face of the seal is carved with a mouth, nose and eyes that are inlaid with haliotis shell. The tail is carved between the rear flippers. The top rim of the bowl is flat and inlaid with ?operculum shell. The inside of the bowl is smoothly carved with a bevel part way down running from tail to head on either side of the bowl. The wood of the bowl is permeated with the grease it once contained. [CAK 17/08/2009]

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 bowl was viewed alongside other wood and horn dishes on Wednesday Sept 9, 2009. No information about this particular dish was recorded from delegates. [CAK 28/05/2010]

Primary Documentation

Accession Book Entry - 'MRS H. G. BEASLEY, WHITE BARN, SUNNINGDALE, BERKS. Specimens from the Cranmore Museum... N. W. COAST, HAIDA INDIANS. Wooden bowl carved as seal, with haliotis shell eyes. Has been used for oolachan oil and is therefore impregnated with it. L. 27.4 cm.

There is no further information on the catalogue card. [CW 11 6 98]

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]