S'abadeb-Seattle Art Museum The fine-grained wood of the western red cedar was worked with few tools, but those that were used were ever efficient, like this straight adze made of elk antler. The carver's toolbox would include several types of adzes, wedges, straight-and crooked-bladed knives, and, later, metal blades, chisels, and saws. Before Natives had access to metal via salvage from oceangoing vessels or trade, adze blades were made from finely sharpened stone, and knives from shell or beaver teeth. The straight adze was employed on the southern Northwest Coast and along the Columbia River. Often there is a human or animal on the butt: here, it might be a mountain goat or an elk.

item is from the Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers founding collection

A necklace of 117 beads, 6 teeth and 7 silver beavers, arranged with a large beaver at centre and 4 beads separating alternating teeth and beavers. Remaining beads all in colour sequence of three of the light-coloured beads alternating with a red bead. Large beaver has cross-hatched tail, engraved fur on body and two holes as nostrils. Three cartouches on body. Remaining beavers each have nose rings and a cartouche on back. Hole drilled at base of each tooth through which they are strung.

Bag or pouch made of animal skin, with dark brown hooves attached near the bottom of the bag on both sides. A skin handle is attached on each side near the top.

Three teeth, one (part c) of which is painted red and blue.

Large flat leaf-shaped iron blade. Fixed to the blade with compresses of spruce resin are two antler spurs (elk ?) incised with designs of wolf and snake. Also attached, there is a heavy lanyard of twisted sinew (whale or sea-lion) (used to attach head to long line). Engraved with lightning serpent imagery.

Amulet of elk hoof incised with designs, perforated at the top and cut with a zigzag along the bottom edge. [MJD 5/5/2009]