Ritual Platter
About this object
History of use
According to the accession records this is a Cowichan spell / curse on a platter: "The woman represented was asked for a dish that both she and her neglectful husband used. In drawing the figure, the person who made the dish left the arms until last. The significance being that the right arm (as you face the dish) is the husband's lifeline - it was drawn first and extends to the crotch, the woman's lifeline (the left arm) was then drawn, and the crotch overlaps her husband's lifeline thus giving her control over her husband. (Della Kew, Musqueam, 1973).
Narrative
The platter was donated for research purposes only; it is not to be viewed by the public.
Cultural context
shamanism; ritual
Iconographic meaning
The figure represents a woman whose husband was neglecting her and her children.
Physical description
Ritual spell or curse on a platter. Food platter is white with silver decoration around rim. Covering the dish is a drawing of a human figure made of a mixture of red ochre and oil.
Categories
Materials
Date Acquired
2 Mar 1973
How Acquired
Donated
Measurements
Overall: 2.4 x 27.4 x 35.5 cm
Object Number
A17201