Here's something new

[unclemac]

I saw this grease bowl in a small antique shop off the beaten path last week and knew right away what it was. The shop owner had a limited idea of its worth so I sent him this website and brought him up to speed. We negotiated a price and now it's mine! While not an historic period artifact, it is over 100 years old, made for the Alaskan tourist trade by well known Tlingit artists, Augustus Bean and Rodolph Walton. Here is a similar example.

Augustus Bean/Rudolph Walton, Tlingit grease bowl

Augustus Bean (Inuit, 1850-1926) and Rudolph Walton (Inuit, 1867-1926), Tlingit/Haida ceremonial grease bowl with carved bear-form handles, c. 1900, wood, bone, abalone and trade beads, 7"h x 17"l x 7.5"w

auctions.milleabros.com

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector, Waterproof Gold Detector, Pinpoint & Terrain Modes, Professional Metal Detector - Grab it through Amazon!

[Tdog]

Never seen anything like it. It appears that the missing abalone teeth could be restored without too much difficulty.

 

[unclemac]

I think I will leave it as is. the patina is great, the age use is great... it is just an old authentic piece. Think of it as 100 year old pueblo pottery, made to sell on the side of the road.

 

[unclemac]

This bowl is about 18 inches long... here is some info on its purpose.

Grease bowls were made to contain edible oils used as an accompaniment to the dried fish or meats that were served during feasts and potlatch celebrations on the Northwest Coast. Grease is an adopted English word used to indicate eulachon or candlefish oil, rendered in large wooden vats from small river-run fish in the early spring, or seal oil, rendered from the thick blubber that insulates the various coastal species of seal from the cold northern Pacific waters. Smaller bowls of this kind were often personal property, used by individuals or family groups on a daily basis, while the larger ones were used for bigger gatherings as serving vessels, from which these oils were ladled into smaller bowls.