Ladle with Turtle
17 cm long x 2.5 cm wide x 1.4 cm thick (handle)
15 cm long x 11 cm wide x 0.5 cm thick (bowl)
Carved wood
Yukon River, Alaska (Deg Hi’tan/Deg Xinag), c. 1869
Collector: W. H. Dall
Museum ID number: DAL.C1.aq.0090
Utensils like this ladle were usually carved by male Elders, often from driftwood that was collected during the summer. Each ladle obtained from these groups has its own unique decorative and symbolic marking, likely indicating both the owner and a broader reflection of the image’s relationship to the natural world. This particular ladle is dyed red with parallel black lines encircling a painting of a turtle. The extensive colors may indicate that it was used in ceremony rather than for serving. The black lines may be female symbols. They may also be the final encircling lines the artist painted on the object to imbue it with spiritual life, enabling it to become a part of all other worldly things. The turtle is an example of the mythical figures often found on ladles. The presence of such animals depicts the interrelatedness between life cycles, the natural environment, and mythology.