An animal horn was steamed and softened then shaped into this ladle. Engravings on the exterior of the bowl depict scenes of daily life: a whale hunt, men spearing walruses, fish drying outside a house, a fenced reindeer herd, a dog sled, two wrestling bears, and a shaman performing a ritual inside a house to heal the sick. Heavy engravings of a walrus head and shoulders and fishermen hauling in nets decorate the handle's interior. The ladle is in good condition.

Tag attached M.D. Schwatrz: "Flask 19th c. Puurchased over 40 years ago in shop in Greenwich, R. I."

This is carved out of one piece of elk horn. Horn spoon with a zig zag cut out handled. Designed by artist to refect traditional influence from spoon 05.588.7578 George Blake(Hupa, 1944-) was born on the Hupa Reservation. He works in contemporary styles of ceramics, and painting but concentrates more on tradtional styles of items such as redwood canoes, sinew-backed bows and arrow sets, elk horn purses and spoons and ceremonial featherwork.

This elk horn spoon is a beautiful contemporary vesion of historical spoons.George Blake(Hupa, 1944-) was born of the Hoopa Reservation. He works in contemporary styles of ceramics, and painting but concentrates more on tradtional styles of items such as redwood canoes, sinew-backed bows and arrow sets, elk horn purses and spoons and ceremonial featherwork.

(Photo lower left) Roughly modeled buffalo with slight indications for his hair, rough under his chin, paint traces down his forehead and hide for ears and tail.

This is a very special spoon that might be ceremonial but not for any specific ceremony.

Probably Lakota Sioux. The horn spoon is cut on the sides and end of the handle, steamed and bent while soft to shape. May be cow or sheep horn. The quill is dyed porcupine. Do not know if really a "medicine" spoon. It might have been used ceremonially but not designated for any specific ceremony. A special spoon that is good example of its type.

Museum Expedition 1905, Museum Collection Fund

Bequest of W.S. Morton Mead

Brooklyn Museum Collection