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
Artwork is in the public domain. Image courtesy of the Ruth and Elmer Museum of Art at Hamilton…
Ceramic box tile from a bath
Unknown artist, Roman (Ancient)
Date: 3rd century CE
Medium: Terracotta
Object number: INV.778
Photo by John Bentham.
Ball-play Dance, plate 22 from "North American Indian Portfolio"
George Catlin
Date: 1845
Medium: Color lithograph on paper
Object number: 1959.124
Photo by John Bentham.
Buffalo Hunt, Chase, plate 6 from the "North American Indian Portfolio"
George Catlin
Date: 1845
Medium: Color lithograph on paper
Object number: 1959.110
© Jeffrey Gibson. Image courtesy of the Ruth and Elmer Museum of Art at Hamilton College, Clint…
I Was Here
Jeffrey Gibson
Date: 2018
Medium: Single-channel video
Object number: 2018.6
Photograph by Dave Revette.
Raven Rattle
Date: c. 1850-1875
Medium: Wood with paint
Object number: 1996.15.32
Photo by John Bentham.
Buffalo Hunt, Surround, plate 9 from the "North American Indian Portfolio"
George Catlin
Date: 1845
Medium: Color lithograph on paper
Object number: 1959.112
Artwork is in the public domain. Image courtesy of the Ruth and Elmer Museum of Art at Hamilton…
Shabti Overseer
Date: c. 1070-656 B.C.E.
Medium: Clay
Object number: 1943.124
Jug
Jug
Date: 6th-7th century C.E.
Medium: Mold-blown glass
Object number: 1929.76
Photo by John Bentham.
Ball Players, plate 21 from "North American Indian Portfolio"
George Catlin
Date: 1845
Medium: Hand-colored lithograph on paper
Object number: 1959.123
Photograph by John Bentham.
Portrait of William Roehrick
David Esterly
Date: 1993
Medium: Limewood
Object number: 1993.37
Artwork is in the public domain. Image courtesy of the Ruth and Elmer Museum of Art at Hamilton…
Shabti
Date: c. 1070-656 B.C.E.
Medium: Faience
Object number: 1943.100
Photo by John Bentham.
Wi-Jun-Jon, plate 25 from the "North American Indian Portfolio"
George Catlin
Date: 1845
Medium: Hand-colored lithograph on paper
Object number: 1959.127