Skip to main content
ProvenanceMaurice Braham, London, England; Lord Alastair McAlpine (M389), London, England; Taylor A. Dale, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Arthur O. Wellman, Boston, Massachusetts; Jonathan Holstein, Cazenovia, New York
BibliographyVincent, Gilbert et al. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2000, p.179.
Fognell, Eva and Alexander Brier Marr, eds. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection at the Fenimore Art Museum, 2nd ed. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2016, p. 199.
Culture
Western Plateau region
Digging Stick Handle
DateProbably 18th century
MediumElk antler
DimensionsOverall: 12 3/4 × 1 1/2 in. (32.4 × 3.8 cm)
Object numberT0704
Credit LineLoan of Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw Collection
Photograph by John Bigelow Taylor, NYC
Label TextWooden digging sticks, hardened by fire, were the indispensable utensils of Native American women in their search for clams, camas roots, and edible plants. The women also carried hemp bags to transport the roots and plants that they gathered. Digging sticks of the Plateau region were made with a handle made of elk antler and enabled women to exercise more leverage. The handle was attached to a stick at right angles through an opening in the heavier part of the handle. Usually this was a round hole, but in this example it is square.ProvenanceMaurice Braham, London, England; Lord Alastair McAlpine (M389), London, England; Taylor A. Dale, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Arthur O. Wellman, Boston, Massachusetts; Jonathan Holstein, Cazenovia, New York
BibliographyVincent, Gilbert et al. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2000, p.179.
Fognell, Eva and Alexander Brier Marr, eds. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection at the Fenimore Art Museum, 2nd ed. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2016, p. 199.
On View
Not on viewApril 1, 1917
