Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 2003-0008-0013   CAS 2003-0008-0013; Spoon
Category Carvings; Culinary Items
Object Name Spoon
Culture Haida or Tlingit
Global Region North America
Country Canada or USA
State/Prov./Dist. British Columbia or Alaska
County
Other Geographic Data Northwest Coast
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. early to mid 1900s
Collection Name N/A
Materials Mountain sheep or goat horn; Shell: nacre (mother-of-pearl)
Description Spoon or ladle carved from a single piece of very dark horn that has been steamed and carved to shape; Elongated bowl-shaped portion of spoon is very shallow and tapers very gradually toward the handle, which is carved in the form of several creatures positioned one atop the others; Lowest figure is a bear that is seated on its haunches while holding a smaller animal (seal?) in its front paws and mouth; Sitting atop the bear is a raven with a flattened beak and at the very top is an eagle with a pointed beak; Eyes of all the creatures are inset with small abalone shell discs, with additional discs in the wings of both the raven and eagle.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 5.2, Thickness = 2.2, Length = ca. 25.5