Grease Ladle Item Number: A8115 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Ladle with flat round bowl and short narrow handle. The handle has a downward facing finial on the end. The bowl of ladle is coated with a substance, possibly grease or oil. The underside of the ladle's shallow bowl is rounded. The bowl is a yellowish brown colour while the handle is darker due to use.
History Of Use
Ladles are 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
- Made in British Columbia, Canada during 1927
- Collected in Duncan, British Columbia, Canada between 1950 and 1962
- Owned by Edith Bevan Cross before July 30, 1962
- Received from Edith Bevan Cross (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) on July 30, 1962
What
Who
- Culture
- Coast Salish: Quwutsun'
- Previous Owner
- Edith Bevan Cross
- Received from
- Edith Bevan Cross (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Duncan, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- during 1927
- Collection Date
- between 1950 and 1962
- Ownership Date
- before July 30, 1962
- Acquisition Date
- on July 30, 1962
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 7
- Accession Number
- 0081/0031 a