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Description

Very large horn spoon with perforated handle. [El.B 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 20/3/2006]

Longer Description

Very large horn spoon with perforated handle. The spoon is formed from a single piece of horn, either mountain goat or mountain sheep. It has a wide and deep bowl and a long, narrow handle. There is a slight concave curve to the handle, particularly near the bowl of the spoon. The top of the handle curves in one one side and then angles back out again. This forms a rounded end to the handle. The end is also rougher and has been perforated. The grain of the horn is visible throughout the spoon. [CAK 19/04/2010]

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 - HAIDA. C. HARRISON COLLN. PURCHASED 1891. [El.B 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 20/3/2006]

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]

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 recognised this spoon as an older, pre-contact design. They described how spoons would be made in wooden moulds, and that the horn would be heated and steamed to make it fit the mould. The marks on this spoon were identified as the natural grain of the horn, and that the horn was probably originally curved in shape. It was noted that the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, B.C., has examples of the wooden moulds used to make spoons, as well as a collection of horn spoons. With regards to other spoons with perforations, delegates suggested the holes might have been used to hang the spoons on walls. [CAK 19/04/2010]

Item History

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