Canoe Cup


CMC PCD 94-338-030

Eastern Canada; early nineteenth century; wood; 12 x 8 x 4.5 cm; Price Collection. CMC 79-1671

Voyageurs and hunters travelling by canoe sometimes carried cups carved from the burls of tree trunks. These were profusely decorated with incised motifs, such as a four-leaf clover, a basket of flowers, a beaver, a snake, a mermaid and fish, a boat, or hearts. The small barrel attached to the cup with string serves as a toggle for hanging the cup from the belt. On the outer rim of the work is the inscription, "Antoine Cinqmars".