Spoon c. 19th century

This spoon was crafted by the Tlingit people of the Pacific Northwest Coast. The spoon presents a compelling interplay of form and function, rendered in the rich, dark hue of worked horn. Consider how the spoon's shape echoes forms found in nature, the curve of a river stone, the elongated beak of a bird, embodying a deep connection to the natural world. The handle tapers to a delicate point, a shape that brings to mind the ‘anima’ present in artifacts of various cultures. Think of the ceremonial daggers of ancient cultures, and how they were used as symbols of power and transformation. The spoon, in its essence, is a vessel. Throughout history, vessels have represented not only sustenance but also the body and the soul. It is a vessel of knowledge, continually reshaped and reinterpreted.