Bowl

Said to have been collected by Donald MacKay while he was the Indian Commissioner for BC, 1937-1948. Many dishes such as this one were produced in Sitka for the tourist art market. Similar items can be found in museums throughout North America, as these museums tend to have later collections that those in Europe.

Red-brown wood dish in the shape of a bear. Has circular abalone shell inlaid eyes surrounded by a plain carved tapering oval, a snout, and an open mouth showing nine abalone shell inlaid teeth. Thirteen oval abalone shell inlaid pieces are along the rim. The fore legs are angled forward while the back legs are bent at the knees.