Spoon Item Number: A17083 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Spoon carved from one piece of horn with a leaf-shaped bowl and long narrow handle with a squared end. A hole has been bored into the handle near the tip. The spoon is an opaque amber colour with dark brown striations.
History Of Use
Along the Northwest Coast, in general, undecorated spoons of wood and horn were used in everyday life, while more elaborately carved versions were used on special occassions. Horn spoons were often passed down in families as heirlooms, such spoons are generally darker in colour than those of recent manufacture. Bill Holm (1987) reports that cow horn began to be used at the turn of the century (circa 1900). The bowls of these spoons are too large to place in the mouth, so food is sipped from the sides or the end.
Specific Techniques
Niblack notes that: "The bowl [of the horn spoon] comes from the largest part; the handle runs the full length to the tip, and afterwards is straightened out by steaming in a wooden mould made in two pieces, and scored out inside to the required shape (1970:318)."
Cultural Context
household utensil; domestic
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada
- Collected by Della Kew in Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada during August 1972
- Owned by Edward Miller before 1972
- Received from Leon & Thea Koerner Foundation (Funding source) and Edward Miller (Seller) during 1972
What
Who
- Culture
- Coast Salish: Quwutsun'
- Field Collector
- Della Kew
- Previous Owner
- Edward Miller
- Received from
- Leon & Thea Koerner Foundation (Funding source) and Edward Miller (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Collection Date
- during August 1972
- Ownership Date
- before 1972
- Acquisition Date
- during 1972
Other
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 7
- Accession Number
- 0215/0003