Seneca wood spoons

[tallbear]

While not a "longrifle accoutrement"exactly they certainly could be carried in a possibles bag( as they were sold and traded to whites)I thought it would be of interest here.On a recent trip to the Smithsonian I came across a wooden spoon that kind of spoke to me.My Great grandmother was a Cornplanter Seneca so their art and history are of interest to me.These are my first attempts.I made these from maple(which is traditional.They were carved then  scraped(no sandpaper).I hollowed the bowl with a gouge as I have yet to make a crooked knife(a project for the near future).

Mitch

[brokenflint]

Hey Mitch

Tell me alittle more about these spoons.  Are they made so they can hang over the edge of the bowl and not slide in?  How big a piece of wood do you need to make one of these?  And what do you seal it with that's food safe?

Broke

[brokenflint]

Very nice btw 

[David Rase]

Nice job Mitch.  I really like the second spoon, owl I take it.  We all need projects like your spoons to keep our sanity between rifle projects.  Sometimes even during a rifle project.
DMR

[tallbear]

Flint
These spoons go back at least to the 1600's as far as my research go's(which I'm just starting)They were made primarily from maple but some fruitwoods(apple'cherry)were used.You are correct that they have the hook so they don't slide into the bowl.The dark spoon is about 3"across the bowl.The originals that i've seen start with this size and went up from there.The block i used  was 3x5 and were the cut-offs from a rifle blank.As for a finish almost all finishes are foodsafe once dried.You will get some great arguments about this but I researched it heavily for a line of commercial children's furniture I built for a while.I used Jim Chambers finish but if you are really worried use Butcher block oil made for wood kitchen counters.If you any other questions fire away I'll try to answer them!!

Dave
You are so right.I'm getting ready to engrave and carve my sons first rifle and these are a great diversion while I practice up on my engraving!!

Mitch

[Brian]

Very cool.  Nicely done.

[Tim Crosby]

 They are really neat, I don't think I have ever seen anything like them before.
I would imagine you have to be very careful with grain orientation. Thanks for posting the pics.

Tim C.

[G. Elsenbeck]

Mitch,  this speaks volume.  What a great idea and bringing forms into today from pages from our past. 
Gary

[david50]

cool!, nice work

[Eric Fleisher]

Very cool stuff Mitch.  Bring them along to Dixon's for a closer inspection.

[tallbear]

Thanks guys for the kind words!!Eric I'll bring them with me,I'm already looking forward to Dixons

Mitch

[Ben I. Voss]

Neat! I suppose that in the old days they would have finished them with bear oil or some other kind of fat or grease.