Ladle Item Number: A8916 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Ladle with oval shaped bowl and long narrow handle. The handle has a rounded end with a hole through it. The underside of the ladle's bowl is rounded. The inside of the bowl has a dark shiny residue. The wood overall is a dark brown colour.

History Of Use

Ladles were used for serving food, and this one with its greasy residue was likely used for serving oil. Fish oil was a traditional staple in the Coast Salish diet. Homer Barnett, for example, notes that: "the regular diet consisted of dried foods, principally salmon, clams and fish eggs, all of which were dipped in seal, porpoise, or fish oil (1955:60). " He adds that: "the blubber of fish was boiled until the oil was released and floated on the surface of the water. It was then skimmed off with ladles and when cool put into the stomach sacks of seals or sea lions for storage (1955:61)." Eulachon, a fish prized along the Pacific Northwest for its oil, was available only along the Squamish and Homathko rivers. "The Comox and the Pentlatch [of eastern Vancouver Island] used the oil of this fish but had to obtain it by trade with groups to the north. The others did without it (1955:67)."

Cultural Context

household utensil; domestic

Item History

What

Name
Ladle
Identification Number
A8916
Type of Item
ladle
Material
wood and oil
Manufacturing Technique
carved and drilled
Overall
height 14.0 cm, width 32.0 cm, depth 10.0 cm

Who

Culture
Coast Salish
Previous Owner
George Henry Raley
Received from
H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and George Henry Raley (Seller)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
British Columbia, Canada
Collected in
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada ?

When

Creation Date
before 1934
Collection Date
between 1893 and 1934
Ownership Date
before November 1948
Acquisition Date
during November 1948

Other

Condition
fair
Accession Number
1960/0575