Collections: Arts of the Americas: Spoon

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Spoon

• Culture: Tlingit (probably), Native American
• Medium: Mountain goat horn, copper nails
• Geographical Locations:
  • Possible place made: Canada
  • Possible place made: USA
• Dates: 18th-19th century
• Dimensions: 2 1/16 (bowl) x 5 11/16 in. (5.3 x 14.5 cm)
• Collections: Arts of the Americas
• Museum Location: This item is not on view
• Accession Number: 49.20.3
• Credit Line: Gift of Albert Gallatin
• Image: Overall, 49.20.3_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
Tlingit (probably) (Native American). Spoon, 18th-19th century. Mountain goat horn, copper nails, 2 1/16 (bowl) x 5 11/16 in. (5.3 x 14.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Albert Gallatin, 49.20.3 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 49.20.3_bw.jpg)
• Catalogue Description: This spoon is carved in two pieces. The handle is carved, the bowl is plain. Detail description follows: The design begins at the tip of the handle with a segmented cone (possibly representing the rank symbol for the figure below). This cone rests upon the head of a long, thin, standing figure with large, down-slanted eyes and a protruding tongue held with the hands. The figure stands upon a section of a cylinder of four, elaborated rectangles carved on the side. Below this is an animal head with a long beak-like nose that curls down towards the mouth. The head might represent a hawk. In the open mouth of this head a double row of teeth is clearly indicated. Condition: good.