Ladle c. 20th century

This ladle was made by an artist from the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) nation. Just looking at it, I can almost imagine the maker coaxing this form out of a block of wood, seeing the bird in there already, waiting to be freed. The wood grain itself becomes part of the story, those dark, sweeping lines on the neck. I wonder, was that intentional? Did the artist turn the wood this way and that, searching for the right grain, the perfect curve? I bet they tested its balance in their hand as it began to emerge. I imagine the artist thinking about how the ladle will feel in someone else’s hand. The scoop is so generous, and the bird’s head has these little, beady eyes. It’s like the bird itself is curious about what’s being served. Thinking about that makes me appreciate how the artist really brought a sense of play to their craft.