Ladle

Ladle

Object name: Ladle
Date: 1830-1839
Dimensions:
60 x 70 x 240 mm
Medium: Pine wood
Object number: C01346
DescriptionLadle or Scoop painted with eyes. Na-As or Naas tribe. This tribe lived in the area later known to settlers as British Colombia, North West coast of America, although George Catlin included them and the Chinook and other North-western tribes as Na-as in a more general sense.
Catlin was briefly an attorney but made his name as an artist and traveller. Originally from Philadelphia he joined a diplomatic mission into native territory in 1830 and made more trips to paint people from many tribes. He was the first to depict plains Indians in their native territory. He produced over 500 paintings and collected many artefacts. He wanted to sell his collection to the American government but without much success. Most of his collection was bought by the industrialist Joseph Harrison and the collection found its way after his death into the Smithsonian museum.
Culture: North West Coast