Collections: Arts of the Americas: Bear Feast Bowl

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Bear Feast Bowl

• Cultures: Haida, Native American; or Tlingit, Native American
• Medium: Wood, plant fiber, twine
• Possible Place Collected: Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, Canada
• Dates: 19th century
• Dimensions: 8 x 13 1/2 x 12 in. (20.3 x 34.3 x 30.5 cm)
• Collections: Arts of the Americas
• Museum Location: This item is not on view
• Accession Number: 05.251
• Credit Line: Museum Expedition 1905, Museum Collection Fund
• Image: Overall, 05.251_acetate_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
Haida (Native American). Bear Feast Bowl, 19th century. Wood, plant fiber, twine, 8 x 13 1/2 x 12 in. (20.3 x 34.3 x 30.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1905, Museum Collection Fund, 05.251 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 05.251_acetate_bw.jpg)
• Catalogue Description: The object is a bent-corner, box-shaped feast bowl having a bear's face with protruding tongue on one end and its tail on the other. The second face on the bear's tail is a visual pun. The object is in fair and stable condition. Although the wood appears to be extruding oil in some areas more than others, the wood is stable. There are several minor cracks on two of the sides of the bowl which are stable. Previous repairs to the side corners remain secure. The join on through the large face where a break was repaired appears firm and stable. According to Robin Wright, Burke Museum, April 16, 2003, this is not Haida because the eye socket lines run right out to the lips of the bear, which is distinctively Tlingit. She added that if the Tlingit still owned the piece, they would have cleaned up the oil and darkened color.