Spoon Item Number: 2999/2 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Small painted wooden spoon. The handle is carved into the shape of a fish, with a brown painted fluke and a small dorsal fin. Painted-on designs are side fins, dorsal decorations of lines and dots, the jaw line and mouth. Large teeth have been carved and emphasized with red paint. Small round eyes have also been carved and painted dark brown. In its mouth the fish grasps the bowl of the spoon, which is carved of the same piece of wood. The bowl is thick in the centre and thin at the edges and is undecorated. This spoon is carved in a light hardwood.
Narrative
Originally collected by Reverend Smith Stanley Osterhout, a methodist minister who was sent to work in northern BC from 1893 to 1903. This spoon bears a strong resemblance to other utensils by the same hand in the MOA collection as well as MOV and RBCM. The simple painting with black pigment, stripes, dots, and use of red/burgundy in the mouth of the fish all conform to Elwitt’s style.
Item History
- Made by Samuel Elwitt (Maker) in Port Simpson, British Columbia, Canada and Lax Kw'alaams, British Columbia, Canada during 1903
- Owned by Robert H. Stevens before March 23, 2013
- Received from Robert H. Stevens (Donor) on March 23, 2013
What
Who
- Culture
- Tsimshian
- Creator
- Samuel Elwitt (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- Robert H. Stevens
- Received from
- Robert H. Stevens (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Port Simpson, British Columbia, Canada and Lax Kw'alaams, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- during 1903
- Ownership Date
- before March 23, 2013
- Acquisition Date
- on March 23, 2013
Other
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 2999/0002