Bentwood Dish

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Pre-conservation
Bentwood Dish
Pre-conservation
Datebefore 1850
MediumWood and spruce root
DimensionsOverall: 4 1/2 × 9 1/4 × 6 5/8 in. (11.4 × 23.5 × 16.8 cm)
Credit LineTransferred from the Knox Hall of Natural History, Hamilton College
Object number1984.468
Not on view
DescriptionKerfing was an important technique used by the Native Americans of the Northwest Coast to produce watertight boxes. The process involved the precise scoring and steam heating of a continuous strip of wood, whereby the strip would be bent to form the sides of a box. The first and fourth sides were sewn or pegged together and a bottom added by sewing or pegging. This bent wood dish has carvings on all sides and is impregnated with fish or seal oil which exudes from the surface.
Collections

Additional Details

Exhibition History 2005
Clinton, NY (Fred L. Emerson Gallery, Hamilton College). "Hamilton Collects: A Century of Curiosities: The Story of the Hamilton College Collection," September 29 - December 30, 2005 (unnumbered cat.);

1985
Clinton, NY (Fred L. Emerson Gallery, Hamilton College). "Wonderful Heroes, Fearsome Creatures," November 2 - December 14, 1985 (cat. no. 14, illus. 27).
Provenance 1984: Hamilton College (Emerson Gallery), by transfer from the Anthropology Department;
? - 1984: Hamilton College (Anthropology Department), by transfer from the Knox Hall of Natural History;
by 1925: Hamilton College (Knox Hall of Natural History), by gift from an unknown donor (research pending).
Published References WONDERFUL HEROES FEARSOME CREATURES: ART OF THE NORTHWEST COAST exh. cat. (Clinton, NY: Fred L. Emerson Gallery, 1985), 27, illus. 27.
Inscribed Inscribed in ink on bottom at center: E81
Photo by John Bentham.
Bamileke-style Drum
Date: date unknown
Medium: Wood, hide and braided cord
Object number: 1996.15.43
Photograph by Dave Revette
Feast Dish
Date: c. 1850-1900
Medium: Wood
Object number: 1984.469
Photograph by John Bentham.
Headdress frontlet
Date: c. 1825-50
Medium: Wood with paint and abalone
Object number: 1984.470
Raven dance rattle
Raven dance rattle
Date: 1850-75
Medium: Wood with paint
Object number: 1984.472
Mask
Mask
Date: date unknown
Medium: Wood and metal
Object number: INV.679
Mask
Mask
Date: date unknown
Medium: Wood
Object number: INV.681
Photograph by John Bentham.
Heron dance rattle
Date: c. 1850-75
Medium: Wood with paint
Object number: 1984.471
Oystercatcher dance rattle
Oystercatcher dance rattle
Date: 1875-1900
Medium: Wood with paint
Object number: 1984.473
Dril-Bu and Dorje
Dril-Bu and Dorje
Date: Likely 20th century
Medium: Metal
Object number: U 4.2010
Mokugyo Drum
Mokugyo Drum
Unknown artist, Japanese
Date: 20th century
Medium: Wood with paint and lacquer
Object number: 2023.10.31
Bonu Amwin mask
Bonu Amwin mask
Date: date unknown
Medium: Wood and pigment
Object number: INV.680
Photo by John Bentham.
Musele or Onzil (throwing knife)
Date: 19th century
Medium: Iron, wood, copper alloy
Object number: 2023.10.52