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1891.49.49

Black horn spoon with pointed handle. [EC 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 13/3/2006]

1891.49.49

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Collection type
Object
Description
Black horn spoon with pointed handle. [EC 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 13/3/2006]
Long description
Black horn spoon with pointed handle. The material is likely mountain goat horn given its darker colour. The bowl and ladle are a single piece, the handle being plainly carved, slightly curved and tapering towards the tip. There is a small notch incised on the reverse of the handle and a slight ridge where the handle becomes the bowl. The handle is 2 mm wide at its tip and 16 mm wide where it joins the bowl. At its widest, the bowl measures 62 mm and is 25 mm wide at its tip. The entire spoon has a smooth surface. [CAK 06/04/2009]
Geographical reference
Canada
Northern America > North America > Canada
British Columbia Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) NW Coast
Cultural groups
Haida
Person
Field collector Charles Harrison
PRM source Charles Harrison
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1882-1890
Date collected
Between 1882 and 1890 ?
Acquisition information
Purchased: 02/03/1891
Materials and processes
Material Animal Horn, Material Goat Horn Animal, Process Carved
Dimensions
Length: max 210 mm, Width: max 62 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1891.49.49
Research and responses

The following information comes from Haida delegates who worked with the museum’s collection in September 2009 as part of the project “Haida Material Culture in British Museums: Generating New Forms of Knowledge”:

This spoon was viewed alongside other horn and wood spoons on Wednesday Sept 9, 2009. Delegates referred to this spoon as a trade item, noting that both goat and mountain sheep horn originated on the mainland, were traded for, and carved on Haida Gwaii. Horn was characterised as being 'nice to carve' and delegates reported horn still being carved on Haida Gwaii. It was noted that all parts of the mountain sheep would be used: the horn was carved, the wool was woven and the meat was eaten. In response to a question by Cara Krmpotich about the greenish hue to some of the spoons, delegates replied that the colour was likely the result of UV exposure and/or age. [CAK 12/04/2010]

Search terms: Food and Drink, Trade, Status, Spoon, Food Accessory, Status Object

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