Lidded dish carved in the shape of a bear. Painted black on exterior with white painted interior. The dish (part a) has an oval-shaped concavity in the bear's back; holes drilled into left corners. The bear's head extends forward, with ears back, a line for the mouth, and the eyes are lightly carved with circular cutouts for inlay. Each paw has carved toes. The lid (part b) is rectangular, with rounded sides. The two shorter sides are angled inward, and the interior of the lid has an oval concavity with a hole drilled at centre; two holes drilled into left corners.

• Narrative

  Henry Doyle, the collector of this bowl, operated canneries on the west coast (e.g., Namu, Kimsquit, Mill Bay) from the 1890s-1940s. His family (the donors), believe Doyle received this bowl from either the Haida or the Tsimshian between 1900-1920. Doyle's family spent a lot of time at the Mill Bay cannery site [in Nisga’a territory (Kincolith)], though Doyle had extensive travels and contacts up and down the coast. His father-in-law, Marshall English, operated one of the first four canneries on the Fraser at Brownsville.

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• Type of Item dish
• Culture Northwest Coast
• Material wood, paint
• Manufacturing Technique carved
• Measurements height 9.8 cm, width 11.2 cm, depth 23.3 cm (overall)

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• Previous Owner Henry Doyle, Janet Sheehy
• Received from Janet Sheehy

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• Made in British Columbia

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• Creation Date between 1900 and 1920
• Ownership Date before May 8, 2023
• Acquisition Date on May 8, 2023

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• Condition fair
• Accession Number 3633/0001 a-b