The Carver's Art of the Indians of Northwestern California - Volume 24 - Issued August 6, 1930

Sep 29, 2026

A scholarly ethnographic study of the Indians of northwestern California, situating the region within broader cultural schemes and describing local and northern affiliations. The work identifies principal tribes such as Yurok, Karok, and Hupa, outlines their largely shared cultural traits despite linguistic differences, and focuses on wood- and horn-carving traditions. It surveys key carved objects including horn spoons, mush paddles, money boxes, and related incised articles, and explains how carving relates to basketry design and the overall artistic patterning of the region.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages46

Reading Time1 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

Horn spoons

Mush paddles

Elk-horn money boxes

Cylindrical boxes

Other incised articles

Relation of carving to basketry design

General summary

Explanation of plates

Figures in text

24 The Carver's Artof the Indiansof Northwestern California ISABEL T.KELLY 31624000179176 0 970.1 Kelly-The carver's art of the Indiansof northwestern California. Indan Cohectish W军ND2A.36 HARRISON MEMORIAL LIBRARY CARMEL,CALIF. MA4-4629 BOX 800 1.Books and magazines may be renewed providedno other patron is waiting to read them. 2.A fine of 5 cents per day is charged on all over-due books and magazines.Library privileges are with-drawn when fines accrue beyond a reasonable figure. 3.All losses and injuries to books shall be madegood to the satisfaction of the Librarian. 4.Each borrower is held responsible for all materialdrawn on his card and for all fines accruing on the same. https://archive.org/details/carversartofindi0000unse # THE CARVER'S ART OF THE INDIANSOF NORTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA ISABEL T.KELLY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS INAMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGYAND ETHNOLOGY Volume 24,No.7,pp.343-360,plates 103-119,7 figures'in textIssued August 6,1930 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESSBERKELEY,CALIFORNIA —— CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESSLoNDON,ENGLAND 970.1 Reprinted by permission ofThe Regents of the University of California. ACOMA BOOKSP.O.Box 4Ramona,California 92065 THE CARVER'S ART OF THE INDIANSOF NORTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA BY ISABEL T.KELLY CONTENTS PAGEHorn spoons…… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………44Mush paddles……………………………………………………… ……………………… ……… ………350Elk-horn money boxes…………………………… …………… ……… …… 353Cylindrical boxes…………… … ………………………… … ………………355Other incised articles………………………………………………………………………………………356Relation of carving to basketry design……… …………… …………………………357General summary… ……………… ………………………………………………………358Explanation of plates……………………………………………………………… …………………359 LIST OF PLATES (Following page 360) FIGURES IN TEXT 1.Iroquois food paddles…………………… …………………………………………………350 2.Wooden paddle…………… …………………………………………………………………351 3.Cylindrical capitals……… …………………… …………………………………351 4.Rectangular pedestals of mush paddles……………… ……………………………………351 5.Incised head-scratchers………… … ……………………………………… ……356 6.Incised hairpins…………………………………………………… …… …………………………………………356 7.Triangular and zigzag motifs…………… … ……………… … …358 The Indians of northwestern California occupy a peculiar placein cultural schemes.Although they exhibit a number of typicalCalifornia traits(such as the mush paddle,lack of symbolism),thepreponderance of evidence indicates northern affliation,and they areusually reckoned as the southern outpost of the North Pacifie coasteulture area.Aside from northern and southern importations,thisarea is characterized by certain local developments—the stool,thepillow,the mush paddle,and the horn purse and spoon.The groupis definitely intermediate in culture and yet far from parasitic. The typical tribes of this area are the Yurok,Karok,and Hupa,living along the lower Klamath and Trinity rivers.The Karok and Hupa are inland;the Yurok extend to and along the coast.Althoughunrelated linguistieally,these three tribes are almost identical inculture. The prineipal art is carving in wood and horn.The wooden head-rest,eanoe prow,and stool,are nicely shaped,although they rarelybear designs(Goddard,fig.1,²and Kroeber,pls.15 and 19).³How-ever,these artieles are characterized by a high degree of skill inexecution and finish and attest the excellence of the carver's art.Theplank which serves as house entrance is often decorated,sometimeswith a row of dots around the door,or triangles carved above(pl.118a,and Waterman,pl.4). The prineipal objects decorated are the horn spoon,the woodenmush stirrer,the horn purse,and to a minor extent such articles asbone hairpins,head-seratchers,horn mesh sticks,and dentalium shells(pl.119). HORN SPOONS Carved spoons are manufactured from elk horn and occasionallyfrom deer horn and wood.Deer horn is harder than elk horn,andthe spoons are smaller and less elaborate.The wooden

FAQs

Which tribes are described as typical of northwestern California?

The study highlights the Yurok, Karok, and Hupa, located along the lower Klamath and Trinity rivers, with the Karok and Hupa more inland and the Yurok extending to and along the coast.

What is described as the principal art of this region?

The principal art is carving in wood and horn, including objects such as head-rests, canoe prows, and stools, noted for skilled execution and finish.

How does the document characterize horn spoons and their manufacture?

Horn spoons are described as made primarily from elk horn (and occasionally from deer horn and wood), with preparation involving soaking to soften the horn and shaping by rubbing, followed by details about drilling or piercing methods and typical tool use.

Sep 29, 2026

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