spoon

spoon

spoon

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Introduction

Wooden spoon. Anishinaabeg, made by a Chief of the French River in August, 1856. Acquired by English ethnologist Henry Christy and donated to the British Museum between 1860 and 1869.

Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe
Nation of Origin

Attribution taken from the British Museum object catalogue.

Place of Origin: French River, ON
Date Made or Date Range: Aug 1856
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Created from information found in the British Museum's object catalogue.

Materials

Made from an unknown type of wood.

Techniques or Format

Its edges are blackened, probably from burning. Two drilled holes.

Motifs and Patterns

The end of the handle is carved into a bird resembling a partridge or duck. The bird's back and top of head are burnt. There is a zig zag line at the handle's base.

Other Notes

An inscription reads: "spoon made by an Indian Chief of the French River Lake Huron August 1856." AC said the Chief might be Wayamaking.

Dimensions: 23 × 0 × 0 cm
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

An inscription states that this spoon was made by an Indian Chief of the French River.

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Am,St.792
Collection at Current Location: Christy Collection
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1860s
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Henry Christy
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1856-1860
Collection Narratives and Histories

Acquired by English ethnologist Henry Christy from the French River or Lake Huron area, who donated it to the British Museum between 1860 and 1869.

Publication History

JCH King, 'Thunderbird and Lightning' (British Museum Press, 1982), p.30.

GKS Reference Number: 25916
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Anishinaabe artist, spoon. Currently in the British Museum, Am,St.792. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 25916.

Record Creation Context

This record was created as part of a Great Lakes Research Alliance for the Study of Aboriginal Arts and Cultures (GRASAC) research trip to the Pitt Rivers Museum and British Museum, December 8-22 2007, funded by a grant from the International Opportunities fund of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Record Creation Notes/Observations

Researchers present: Heidi Bohaker (HB), John Borrows (JB), Lindsay Borrows (LB), Darlene Johnston (DJ), Stacey Loyer (SL), Janis Monture (JM), Bruce Morito (BM), Ruth Phillips (RP), Cory Willmott (CW).

Approximate Place of Origin

46.0383, -80.5274

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