Beschreibung:

The shallow oval scoop having a faceted handle rising at one end and curving at its tip, seated there a Native American figure, possibly a woman, wearing long garment to her feet, an unusual pleated cap with pleated suspension hanging down her back, holding a small liquor keg on her lap, the stopper protruding slightly. Length 6 7/8in See illustration Note: The present lot compares favorably to at least two other examples in museum collections. One is pictured in MASTERPIECES OF AMERICAN INDIAN ART from the Eugene and Claire Thaw collection, Vincent, Gilbert T., Harry N. Abrams, Inc, Publishers, New York, 1995, p.23: "Wooden Ladle - Wyandot...c.1750. The carving on this ladle is a magnificent example of Wyandot artistry. The effigy of a man drinking from a rum keg probably refers to the shamanistic White Panther cult in which the ceremonial use of rum caused its members to have visionary experiences." The second example is in the collection of the new Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C. It is pictured in an article published in AMERICAN INDIAN ART magazine, Autumn 2004, p. 59, ill. 5: "Effigy Ladle, Wyandot, c.1730...When Tarhie, Chief of the Wyandot Village at upper Sandusky, Ohio, gave it to George Elliott of the Baltimore Society of Friends in 1799 as a token of friendship, he stated that this ladle was made and used by his ancestors - and by him - to eat cornmeal mush." In the article in pages 59-60, Ann McMullen, the author, writes "As with any collection, documentation is key, and Heye's collection includes some remarkable pieces with equally remarkable documentation." The example illustrated here has a somewhat different form of scoop, but the figure seated atop the handle is decidedly similar to ours in posture and other telling details.