Seal or Sea Lion Bowl

Item number 48.3.247 from the Portland Art Museum.

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Description

An oil dish beautifully carved of alder to represent either a seal of a sea lion. The eyes and joint of the tail flippers are inlaid with pearl, and operculum is used in the nostrils, teeth, front flipper joints, and around the edge of the dish. It is also decorated with small white trade beads.

Three of Mr. Rasmussen's informants thought the figure represented a sea lion. One of them also believed the dish to be a mortar, in which case its greasiness would indicate that it was used for mashing salmon eggs and berries. Exact place of origin unknown.