emkwaan deer antler spoon

emkwaan deer antler spoon

emkwaan deer antler spoon

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Introduction

This relative is a small, handcrafted spoon, emkwaan, made from deer antler. The spoon has a shallow ovoid bowl with squared wings on the lower handle which has a single piercing in the center. The upper bridge of the handle has a bigger piercing and four incised dots. It is Odawa and the material may indicate a clan affiliation. It is currently housed at the Detroit Institute of Arts, MI, USA.

Traditional Knowledge Label
TK Culturally Sensitive
TK Culturally Sensitive

This material has cultural and/or historical sensitivities

Maker role: Artist
Nation of Maker: Odawa
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

DIA records list place of origin as Cross Village, Michigan. The flange on the spoon is also common to Cross Village.

Place of Origin: Cross Village, Emmett County, MI
Date Made or Date Range: 1860
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

DIA records and GRASAC research visit

Materials

The spoon is made of deer antler.

Techniques or Format

The bowl of the spoon is made from the circumference of the antler.

Motifs and Patterns

The spoon has geometric and heart-shaped pierce-work ornamentation towards the end with a single piercing in the center. Four incised dots are seen across top of handle.

Additional Context

During a research visit to the Detroit Institute of Arts, Alan Corbiere observed that "the miniature [spoon] may be for burial (especially due to perforations), but could also be tourist art." Adriana Greci Green thought that "the heritage item could be a spoon for medicine." Alan Corbiere noted that the "antler may be reference to clan affiliation."

Other Notes

The spoon has a distinctive Cross Village style flange. According to Pohrt notes, this spoon was purchased with and used with Pohrt #782.

Dimensions: 1.25 × 1 × 2.625 in
Condition: Some apparent signs of wear and discoloration are visible on the bowl of the spoon.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

DIA records

Current Location: Detroit Institute of Arts, MI, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 81.105
Link to Institution's Collections Database: https://dia.org/collection/spoon-56247
Collection at Current Location: Mary B. Shurtleff Collection
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1981
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Richard A. Pohrt
Collection Narratives and Histories

Formerly in the collection of: Mary B. Shurtleff, Cross Village, Michigan.

Source for Provenance information

DIA records

GKS Reference Number: 25118
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Odawa maker. "Spoon" GRASAC ID 25118. Located in the Detroit Institute of Arts, catalogue number 81.105.

Record Creation Context

This record was augmented by Shamina Vastani in January 2024.

Record Creation Notes/Observations

Images for this relative were removed on February 14, 2024 to respect an agreement between the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Michigan Anishinnabeg Communities of Practice.

Approximate Place of Origin

45.6426, -85.036

Source of Information about Places

DIA records list Cross Village, Michigan as the place of origin.

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