Native American, Northwest Coast, Tlingit, ca. first half of the 20th century CE. A hand-carved and extremely large wooden ladle representing a bird, perhaps a Raven, the handle meticulously detailed with incised features and painted in rich green, red, and black hues - additional green schematic and geometric motifs painted on the head and upper section of the handle/spoon. Spoons like this have traditionally been created to depict zoomorphic and anthropomorphic figures, sometimes referring to supernatural and ancestral beings. Ladles like this example were used by the Tlingit and Haida to serve food at ceremonial occasions, and suggested a double meaning - feeding the participants as well as the nature spirits depicted on the handle. Custom stand. Size: 18.5" L x 5.625" W (47 cm x 14.3 cm); 11.25" H (28.6 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: ex private Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA collection

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#126661

Slight wear, a few scuffs, and slight stains to the underside, but otherwise excellent.