H16.1016

From the History Information Station "Object: Carved elk antler spoons, collected among the lower Klamath River peoples, which dates to the late 19th or early 20th century. They were acquired by the Oakland Public Museum in 1910.History: The massive horns of the elk were carefully shaped into a number of useful objects. From this material a man carved elegant spoons for his own personal use. The only tool he used was a simple pointed obsidian tool called a graver. With his graver, he picked away at the hard antler until a piece of suitable size could be broken off. He sandwiched a piece of horn between bunches of grass and placed it in a hole lined with hot rocks which he filled with dirt. The resultant "steam" treatment made it easier for the carver to bend the antler piece and shape it with his graver. Final shaping and sanding was done with an abrasive, rasping rock, such as sandstone."

Used: food service