Illustrated Soapberry Spoon, 2018
alder and ink,
15” x 1.5” x .5”
by Veronica Rose Waechter

Artist Statement:
Soapberry spoons are delicate instruments which were traditionally used on the northwest coast to whip and eat iss or indian ice cream -whipped soapberries. Spoons were made for the individual and often depicted a design of the persons crest or name. In this soapberry spoon, the shape is accurate but so is the design. Soapberries are illustrated on this spoon with ink in a realistic way, celebrating this small but nutritious little berry.
 
 
This piece of wood was a found off-cut, carved carefully with handmade and hand sharpened tools, spoon shapes formed, design prepared, sanded carefully, a coat of matte medium just on the blade, ink design over the blade, then a light coat of NaturOil.