Iroquois / Haudenosaunee, Northeastern Woodlands
18th century
Maple wood
Height 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm) Width 5 1/2 in. (14 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, California
This 18th-century Iroquois ladle reflects the Northeastern Woodlands tradition of carved wooden serving vessels made for both practical and social use. Ladles of this type were used for foods such as meat stews and cornmeal mush, especially in communal settings where serving objects carried visible status. The bird-form handle gives the piece a sculptural presence while remaining fully integrated with the object’s function.
The ladle is carved from maple, with a broad rounded bowl, a rising faceted handle, and a bird terminal perched above the serving form. Its surface shows a deep patina and age-related wear consistent with long handling and use. The balance between utility and image is central to the object, showing how daily implements could also communicate refinement, rank, and cultural identity.
The association with a high-ranking individual is plausible given the care of the carving and the presence of a figural handle, though the exact original owner is not known. Within Iroquois / Haudenosaunee material culture, carved wooden utensils formed part of a broader domestic and ceremonial world connected to food, hospitality, and gathering. Mounted on a custom stand, the ladle presents as a compact but expressive example of 18th-century Native American wood carving.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
INQUIRE HERE
Iroquois / Haudenosaunee, Northeastern Woodlands
18th century
Maple wood
Height 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm) Width 5 1/2 in. (14 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, California
This 18th-century Iroquois ladle reflects the Northeastern Woodlands tradition of carved wooden serving vessels made for both practical and social use. Ladles of this type were used for foods such as meat stews and cornmeal mush, especially in communal settings where serving objects carried visible status. The bird-form handle gives the piece a sculptural presence while remaining fully integrated with the object’s function.
The ladle is carved from maple, with a broad rounded bowl, a rising faceted handle, and a bird terminal perched above the serving form. Its surface shows a deep patina and age-related wear consistent with long handling and use. The balance between utility and image is central to the object, showing how daily implements could also communicate refinement, rank, and cultural identity.
The association with a high-ranking individual is plausible given the care of the carving and the presence of a figural handle, though the exact original owner is not known. Within Iroquois / Haudenosaunee material culture, carved wooden utensils formed part of a broader domestic and ceremonial world connected to food, hospitality, and gathering. Mounted on a custom stand, the ladle presents as a compact but expressive example of 18th-century Native American wood carving.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
INQUIRE HERE
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