Brooklyn Museum Collection

Designs made up of incised lines and pierced or "cut out' shapes elaborate the form of this flattened section of elk antler. The upper end of this hair ornament is a carved, elongated semi-circle, rounded at the top, but it is cut at the bottom to suggest the form of two figures which emerge at the shoulders, as if headless, with slightly flexed knees. The figures' torsos have cut triangular shapes pointing downwards. The elongated, lower section of the ornament is pierced with circles, a semicircle, narrow or linear crescents, and two pointed ovals. Each of the "cut-outs" is surrounded with an incised outline, most of them rubbed with red pigment, with the following exceptions: the inner legs of the two figures, on the shins from the knee to the ankle, are rubbed in black. A horn shaped outline is also rubbed in black. At the rounded end, beyond the bone tube is a cross, cut through the flat piece of antler. A faded ribbon, now off-white, is tied to the bone tube and a thin piece of thong is knotted underneath the tube, on the unornamented side of the antler plate. The spreader has lost any remnant of feathers or woodpecker beak that once may have adorned it coming out of the femural bone tube.

The Pomo bear-doctor and the dagger he carried have left a trail of confusion in scholarly literature. Dr. Hudson, informant to Stewart Culin, Museum’s curator, summarized as follows. Bear men belong to a secret organization with a representative from each tribe. He preyed on the community and if killed another would be elected in his place. The object of the society was to eliminate undesirable people in the tribe. Bear-doctors were said to have carried one or two daggers of this type with the tips sharpened and rubbed on grinding stones.The realistic style of incising, impeccably rendered does indicate artist provenance to William Benson and has been found on other items know to have been made by Benson. Since several of these have been found in Museum collections, all made by Benson, these are clearly "models" made for the non-Native market.

This spoon is carved from one piece of antler. The handle is carved into a square form on the end with a saw tooth edge. Then three narrow slits are cut out along the length of the handle until it reaches the bowl. The bowl is darkened in color.

This spoon is carved from one piece of antler. The handle has a gracefully curving zig zag form with a rounded end with a hole in the center. The spoon's bowl is darkened in color.

The spoon is carved from one piece of antler. The handle has a rounded end with a hole in the center. The sides of the handle are zig-zag cuts until it reached the bowl where a horizontal knob form is then the bowl. The bowl is darkened in color.

This spoon is in one piece. The handle is carved with a rounded end and four steps along each side until it reaches the bowl. The bowl is darkened from use.

Antler wedge, "SAJH 136820" and "45 SJ 24/1063" written in black below.

Antler tine, ground, in good condition and apparently stable. "SAJH 41072" in black on inside of tine base.

Wedge is made from elk antler and is ground. (S. Iles 5/5/2004)