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gatgęhetse:s, spoon, wooden
gatgęhetse:s, spoon, wooden
gatgęhetse:s, spoon, wooden
This relative is a Hodenosaunee wooden gatgęhetse:s (ladle or spoon) with a curled hand carved into the end of the handle. It originally belonged to and was perhaps made by Senahéhwas or Maggie (Hess) General, the wife of Tunhwenjo’was or Chief Timothy General of the Young Bear clan from the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve in Ontario, Canada. The associated documentation suggests it was collected from Senahéhwas likely by anthropologist, Frank Speck who travelled to the Six Nations Reserve in 1933-36 and 1944-45 and wrote about meeting the General family. Speck's student, Samuel Pennypacker, bequested the spoon to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology around 1969, where it currently resides.
Belonged to Senahéhwas or Maggie (Hess) General.
The information in this record is based on museum documentation and the writings of Frank Speck.
Read More About This Relative
wood
Carved from a piece of wood. Long stemmed, with a deep and narrow bowl.
A curled hand is carved on the end.
From Tooker, Elisabeth. "The 'Speck Iroquois Collection' in The University Museum." Expedition 29, no. 1 (1987): 49.
"It was through their ceremonials and ritual objects that Speck sought to understand and represent the Iroquois. Consequently, utilitarian objects such as bowls and baskets (the Iroquois are fine basket makers) are lacking or underrepresented in the collection. Such as are represented (see ladle in Fig. 2) are of the sort that might be used in preparing the “feast” of a ceremony. There are few examples of clothing and ornaments, or weapons (war clubs, tomahawks, bows and arrows)."
Frank Speck travelled to the Six Nations Reserve in 1933-36 and 1944-45.
Provenance
It originally belonged to and was perhaps made by Senahéhwas or Maggie (Hess) General, the wife of Tunhwenjo’was or Chief Timothy General of the Young Bear clan from the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve in Ontario, Canada. The associated documentation suggests it was collected from Senahéhwas in 1939 likely by anthropologist, Frank Speck who travelled to the Six Nations Reserve in 1933-36 and 1944-45 and wrote about meeting the General family. Speck's student, Samuel Pennypacker, bequested the spoon to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology around 1969, where it currently resides.
Information on the Collector:
Tooker, Elisabeth. "The 'Speck Iroquois Collection' in The University Museum." Expedition 29, no. 1 (1987): 49.
A record of Speck meeting with the Generals:
Dodge, Ernest S. “A Cayuga Bear Society Curing Rite.” Primitive Man 22, no. 3/4 (1949): 65–71. https://doi.org/10.2307/3316303.
Speck's accounts:
Speck, Frank G. Midwinter Rites of the Cayuga Long House. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2016.
About This GRASAC Record
Maker, Possibly Senahéhwas. Gatgęhetse:s, spoon, wooden. GRASAC ID 25503. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 70-9-101.
This information was gathered during a GRASAC study visit, participants included: David Penney, Ruth Phillips, Stacey Loyer, and William Wierzbowski, December 3, 2009.
This record was augmented by Joy Kruse on March 10, 2025.
43.068800578907, -80.118035013997
According to her obituary, Senahéhwas and her family lived in Ohsweken on the Six Nations Reserve. As the exact address is unknown, this location represents the general area only.