Tlingit. <em>Carved Soapberry Spoon with Flat Spatulate Serving End (Huklishutl)</em>, 1868–1900. Hardwood, 16 9/16 x 1 3/4 x 13/16 in. (42.1 x 4.4 x 2.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1905, Museum Collection Fund, 05.588.7301. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 05.588.7301_acetate_bw.jpg)

Tlingit. Carved Soapberry Spoon with Flat Spatulate Serving End (Huklishutl), 1868–1900. Hardwood, 16 9/16 x 1 3/4 x 13/16 in. (42.1 x 4.4 x 2.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1905, Museum Collection Fund, 05.588.7301. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 05.588.7301_acetate_bw.jpg)

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Carved Soapberry Spoon with Flat Spatulate Serving End (Huklishutl)

Arts of the Americas

CULTURE Tlingit

MEDIUM Hardwood

Place Collected: Klukwan, Alaska, United States

DATES 1868–1900

DIMENSIONS 16 9/16 x 1 3/4 x 13/16 in. (42.1 x 4.4 x 2.1 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas

ACCESSION NUMBER 05.588.7301

CREDIT LINE Museum Expedition 1905, Museum Collection Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Spoon in a soapberry form with a long, flat paddle and a carved design on one end. The handle instead of being smoot like a soapberry spoon is fully carved. It was probably used to ladle out soapberry foam not to make it. Making soapberry foam is done by putting a few tablespoons of berries with a little water into a large bowl and twirling the spoon very quickly back and forth between the hands like making a fire or whisking. As the berries foam up sugar, more water, more berries may be added until it is extremely foamy. When eaten it is normally swooshed into the mouth quickly past the tongue, bypassing any bitter or sour flavor and down the throat for a great treat.

EXHIBITIONS

Objects of Myth and Memory

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Tlingit. Carved Soapberry Spoon with Flat Spatulate Serving End (Huklishutl), 1868–1900. Hardwood, 16 9/16 x 1 3/4 x 13/16 in. (42.1 x 4.4 x 2.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1905, Museum Collection Fund, 05.588.7301. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 05.588.7301_acetate_bw.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 05.588.7301_acetate_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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