Description

Black horn spoon with pointed handle. [EC 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 13/3/2006]

Longer Description

Black horn spoon with pointed handle. The material is likely mountain goat horn given its darker colour. The bowl and ladle are a single piece, the handle being plainly carved, slightly curved and tapering towards the tip. There is a small notch incised on the reverse of the handle and a slight ridge where the handle becomes the bowl. The handle is 2 mm wide at its tip and 16 mm wide where it joins the bowl. At its widest, the bowl measures 62 mm and is 25 mm wide at its tip. The entire spoon has a smooth surface. [CAK 06/04/2009]

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 spoon was viewed alongside other horn and wood spoons on Wednesday Sept 9, 2009. Delegates referred to this spoon as a trade item, noting that both goat and mountain sheep horn originated on the mainland, were traded for, and carved on Haida Gwaii. Horn was characterised as being 'nice to carve' and delegates reported horn still being carved on Haida Gwaii. It was noted that all parts of the mountain sheep would be used: the horn was carved, the wool was woven and the meat was eaten. In response to a question by Cara Krmpotich about the greenish hue to some of the spoons, delegates replied that the colour was likely the result of UV exposure and/or age. [CAK 12/04/2010]

Primary Documentation

Accession book entry (for 1891.49.47 - .56): 'From Rev. Ch. Harrison, 80 Halton Rd, Canonbury Sq. N. Collection of Haida objects collected by him.... - [1 of] 10 horn spoons. £45. [Purchase price includes 1891.49.1-110]

Written on object - [in pencil:] C. Harrison Coll. 1891 [EC 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 13/3/2006]

Pitt Rivers Museum label - HAIDA. Purch. Rev. C. Harrison 1891. [reverse:] 1891.49.49 [EC 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 13/3/2006]

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]