Sitka was probably still the capital of Alaska when this bowl was made, sometime around 1900. Thanks to "Totem Pole Routes" through the Inside Passage of Southeast Alaska, offered by various steamship companies, Sitka was also a tourist hub during this period and produced a great deal of art. Carved silver spoons, model dance paddles, baskets, and distinct styles of both model totem poles and carved and inlaid bowls all came out of the Sitka curio market at the turn of the 20th century.

This figural dish represents either a merganser or a cormorant. The long neck, crest on the back of the head, and elegant beak suggest that it is probably a merganser, but its exact identity is uncertain. The bowl is well carved and unusual for Sitka during this period, with its black and vermilion-red paint and lack of inlays. An interesting aspect of Tlingit art from the early 20th century, which this dish typifies, is the seeming disconnect between the sculptural prowess of many carvers during that period and the looser application of paint. This dish is painted with ovoids at the joints of the wings and tail, and a humanoid face on the chest. What is particularly interesting about this bowl is how it anticipates loon and other seabird-style dishes that became popular in the market later but were still quite unusual at the time of its creation.

CWS