Description

Black horn spoon with pointed handle. [EC 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 9/3/2006]

Longer Description

Black horn spoon with pointed handle. The material is likely mountain goat horn given the dark colour. The spoon is made from a single piece of horn. The handle is plainly carved, straight, and tapers towards the tip. The tip may either have a small notch carved on one side, or a piece of horn make have come off during manufacture or use. The tip of the handle measures 4 mm in width, and where the handle joins the bowl the width is 14 mm. There is a ridge carved where the bowl meets the handle. The handle and bowl are both smooth and the grain of the horn can be seen in the bowl, especially nears its tip. The bowl is 58 mm at its widest, and 19 mm at its tip. The tip has a slight upward and irregular bend that appears to be from wear or an anomaly occurring during its manufacture. [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 commented that smaller spoons were used to eat richer foods so that people would have a smaller portion. Smaller spoons might also be used for giving medicine to children. Diane Brown used the example of dog salmon eggs as a rich food. She noted that when fermented, the eggs are a delicacy. Eating them, however, resulted in high rates of botulism, from which many Haidas died. As a result, they are not really eaten today. [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?' 9/3/2006]

Pitt Rivers Museum label - HAIDA Purch. Rev. C. Harrison 1891. [reverse:] 1891.49.52 [EC 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 9/3/2006]

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]