Wrangell Island (not certain) / Fort Wrangell (not certain), Alexander Archipelago, Alaska, United States, North America
Accession Date:
1876
Collection Date:
1875
Notes:
FROM CARD: "20820-5: ILLUS. IN USNM AR, 1888; PL. 42; FIGS. 227-240; P.318." Identified in the publication as from Kake Tlingit.
FROM OLD 19TH OR EARLY 20TH CENTURY EXHIBIT LABEL WITH CARD [referring to E20820-20825]: "SPOONS.---MADE OF WOOD. USED ESPECIALLY FOR BERRIES, BY ALL NORTHWEST INDIAN TRIBES. KAKE INDIANS (KOLUSCHAN STOCK), ALASKA. 20,820-25. COLLECTED BY JAMES G. SWAN. 20820-25. NEG. NO.6212."
FROM OLD 19TH OR EARLY 20TH CENTURY EXHIBIT LABEL WITH CARD: "BERRY SPOON.---MADE OF WOOD; LOWER PORTION ORNAMENTED WITH TOTEMIC CARVINGS. SHAPED SOMEWHAT LIKE A SPATULA. LENGTH, 14 1/8 INCHES; WIDTH, 1 5/8 INCHES. KAKE INDIANS (KOLUSCHAN STOCK), KUIN ISLAND, ALASKA. 20,823. COLLECTED BY JAMES G. SWAN."
Florence Sheakley made the following comments during the Tlingit Recovering Voices Community Research Visit, March 13-March 24, 2017. These spoons are made of yellow cedar. All of these were made by the same carver. The paddles were made first, and then the carvings were added, but it is unclear why there are holes on the spoons. These spoons were used for blending and making soapberries, which fluff up, similar to a meringue. This is in a set of four, E20819-0, E20821-0, E20823-0, E20824-0
